Resources What we'll learn about Harness the sun's energy and use it to power a LEGO device. Find out how and when you can use the sun to make things move or light up or ring. .

What you'll need

• Solar cells
  
• LEGO Mindstorms resources: mindstorms software, motors, sensors, RCX bricks
• LEGO pieces, including wheels for cars
  
• craft supplies for decorating and personalizing contraptions
  
• pens/paper

Getting started

• Create a movable contraption using the LEGO RCX brick, wheels, and other pieces, perhaps the one you made in the B4W - Movers and Shakers project. Try to design your object beforehand, sketching it if possible.
• Decorate it with pipe cleaners, feathers, whatever art supplies you have.
• Program the Mindstorms software to make your creation move as you want it to, and send the instructions to the RCX brick.
• Instead of powering the contraption with the normal batteries of the brick, hook up solar cells to your device and use solar energy to drive your device.
• Experiment with how much sun you need to make your contraption move; see how fast/easily it moves in full sun vs. shade.

What next

Creation and invention:

• Instead of a moving vehicle, use solar energy to power a different object, such as a device that counts and spins every time it senses someone walking by.
  
• Build devices you can power using other kinds of "green" energy - wind or water, for instance.
  
• Have a solar-car race and see which design is best

Discussion:

• How is the sunshine making your devices work?
  
• Why is this considered "green" or "clean" energy?
  
• What are some problems with solar power?
  
• Did your design need to be adjusted to use solar power instead of batteries? How?
  
• Can you make a solar car run in the shade? Hint: use a mirror.
  

Resources

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