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If you are running the car indoors you will need a very bright light.
The energy density of sunshine is on the order of 1000 watts/m^2.  To
get that indoors you need a lot of lights.  The alternative is a really
big solar cell.  The solar demo cars that have been built are
essentially covered with solar cells.  

Instead of a car, you might consider BEAM robotics - see the book
Junkbots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels for a good intro.  Many BEAM
applications use a capacitor to store energy from the solar cell and
then release it in bursts strong enough to turn the motor.  The robots
pulse along with their speed dependent on the intensity of the lighting.
They still need a pretty bright light or they will not move often enough
to be engaging.

Alternatively, consider using the solar cell to charge a battery that
would provide enough juice for short term operation of the car.  I don't
know how visitors would react to having to wait, but one of those little
radio control short-recharge cycle toy cars could be adapted (sorry I
don't know the brand - they're about the size of a Matchbox car, but
have a tiny electric motor and a "battery" (I suspect a capacitor) that
recharges in about 30 seconds and runs for a couple of minutes.

Dave

David L. Smith, Ph.D.
Director of Professional Development
Da Vinci Discovery Center, Allentown, PA 
http://www.davinci-center.org
"Who will pick up where Leonardo left off?"



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network 
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tal Berman
> Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 9:26 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Energy Exhibit Ideas?
> 
> 
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of 
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> 
> OLE_LINK1OLE_LINK2We at the Israel National Museum of Science 
> are in the stage of planning an Energy exhibition, an 
> exhibition with a series of "Alternative Energy Sources" 
> exhibits - wave energy, energy tower, wind power, 
> hydroelectric power, geothermal energy and nuclear energy as 
> well as some fossil energy exhibits. 
> 
> In of the exhibits in the solar energy part of the exhibition 
> is a small solar car. The selling commercial solar panels do 
> not have enough power output to make the car run. Can you 
> advise me as to ways of solving this problem?
> 
>  
> 
> Thank you
> 
> Tal
> 
>  
> 
> ___________________________________________
> 
>  
> 
> Tal Berman; Ph.D.
> 
> Head of the Exhibits Wing
> 
> Israel National Museum of Science; Daniel and Matilde Recanati Center
> 
> 25  Shmaryahu Levin St.; Haifa, 31448; ISRAEL.
> 
> Tel: +972-4-8628111 ext. 252; Fax: +972-4-8679103; Cell': 
> +972-54-6115577
> 
> Email: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>; Site: 
> http://mustsee.org.il
> 
>  
> 
> Always remember, a bad day at sea 
> is better than a good day in the office
> 
>  
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