RimstarOrg - 2013-02-01
The Kelvin water dropper (Lord Kelvin's thunderstorm) experiment and how it works. This converts falling water to electrostatic charge, and using a spark gap, to electricity. It makes a fun and great science project. It's also called the Kelvin water drop experiment or Kelvin thunderbolt or Lord Kelvin's thunderstorm, the thunderbolt or thunderstorm referring to the sparks that it makes. I also use the high shutter speed on my camera to show the individual water drops after breaking up from the stream as well as using and electroscope to see the electrostatic charge build up before the spark occurs at the spark gap. I also point out how the droplets repel from the bottom cans as they fall. To see how to make this, watch "How to Make Kelvin Water Dropper/Lord Kelvin's Thunderstorm": http://youtu.be/dB-76NdfTbU For more information see: http://rimstar.org/science_electronics_projects/how_to_make_a_kelvin_water_dropper.htm See also How to Make an Electroscope video: http://youtu.be/2PmWlPjV6n0 and the How to Make a Crystal Radio video: http://youtu.be/VqdcU9ULAlA To follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/RimStarz http://rimstar.org
Judging from the mess in here, it looks like there's been plenty of telekinetic activity, but there's no ectoplasmic residue so I think I'm safe. :)
Thanks for the followup info Steve! Have you ever tried collecting the charge into an electrolytic capacitor?
Awesome Steve! I made one of these 3 years ago, producing 21,000 volt sparks and didn't really understand why it works, but was amazed that it did. Thanks for the explanation!! You've got the most comprehensive understanding of static electricity of anyone I know!
Oh, cool! You'd still need to break it up into streams since you need the transition from continuous stream to drops but it sounds doable.
Thanks! And thanks for the feedback re the explanation. Glad I covered all the bases. If you do build one, be sure and make a video so we can see it.
Very demonstrative video about how thunder and lightning can turn up...
Hmm, maybe same idea is possible with aluminum foil tape...
Thanks! That's much appreciated!
I know a smart fellow. He made an amazing flying camera mount for his workshop using stock metal and garage door opener parts. You. :)
Thanks for letting me know! I'll keep em coming as long as people keep enjoying them.
Yup, I'm switching from practicing science to practicing witchcraft. ;).
@PaulLoveVarvara is right. This is fun, interesting, and good as a science project but the current in those sparks is too low to be useful, even with the high voltage.
Wow! I've been watching your films for a while and you have a great way of explaining stuff! Great job :)
Thanks. I'll try to keep them coming.
Glad to hear it! Thanks!
Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying my work! That's a good idea, doing a lecher line video. Though I don't see a lot of interest in it (doesn't even show up on google insights - i.e. no one searches for it) and I prefer there be more interest before I take the time to make a video. But I really like the idea! I'll add it to the todo list anyway. :) Thanks!
Thanks. I do my best. :)
This is so cool! :D
Thanks again!
Oh, here you go! I can see this appearing in one of your cool tech combination videos! :)
do you know where I could get those metal spheres in this project? Can I get them at a normal hardware store?
Thanks! You're stranded island scenario makes me want to make a short movie about just that. Though having a whole plane is a bit of a cheat. How about just a radio and some tins of food? The wires can come temporarily from the radio.
Wow ! So Clearly And Efficiently Explained ! thanks :D
Thank You Rimstar, Amazing To Me, ... For a Less Than Technical Inteligencer Of Said Informations,
I'd be interested to hear what your reasoning is for this.
Thanks Steve.....another awesome explanation.
Thanks!
There's an idea. Use this to make your percolator give you a shock when the coffee's ready!
I tried the salt water with my Kelvin water dropper today. I didn't see any noticeable difference.
I see now. thank you for your reply.
Hi! And thanks for having shared.
Do you know how to calculate the theoretical power we can provide with such a device? I mean scaled up?
No, I don't know how to calculate the theorectical power. But I guess you can do some research to try and figure it out. You could start by putting a capacitor in place of the spark gap and let it charge up for a while. Then after a certain time remove the capacitor and measure its voltage. The formula for energy stored in a capacitor is 0.5 x capacitance x voltage x voltage. Then you'd have to start changing the components and things and see how the changes affect the energy stored over time.
Thanks for watching!
I followed a link to this video from ThunderFoot, but taking a look through your back catalogue of videos I'm embarrassed to have never seen your stuff before. I'm going to enjoy catching up on your videos for the next few weeks, thank you!
@Dylan Greene Glad you see you here. I didn't know about Thunderf00t until you mentioned him. His explanation of the 10,000V from a Van de Graaff with only a small amount of charge carriers for the spark was spot on. I'll have to check out more of his videos. Meanwhile, I hope you continue to enjoy mine!
Thanks Grant. I just looked for your video about it but didn't see one. Hint hint. :) Thanks for the complement. But really, any action above the nuclear level is just Coulomb's force and particle spin. :)
sir could you please tell me how to make this. I want to make this project by 4 feb. it will be greatful if you upload the video quickly. thank you..:)
Hi!
Do you know where I would attach an voltmeter to measure the voltage of this thing? It's for a science experiment so anything would help.
You can't use a voltmeter if you're using normal probes with the meter. You need a high voltage probe like this one http://youtu.be/kXq4FCQ0C38 One kind of measurement you can do is use an electroscope like I show at 2:06 in the video. It won't tell you how much voltage but at least you can see that there's some charge.
can i charge my iphone with this device?
No, the power output is so low that it would take forever to charge an iphone.
I tried salt water, an electrolyte, with my Kelvin water dropper today. No noticeable difference. Thanks for the suggestion though. It was an interesting idea, even if it didn't work out.
Do you mean like adding salt to the water to make it more conductive? I tried that and didn't notice any big difference.
Excellent! Saw Russ do one of these a while back and been meaning to look it up. Your explanation on how it works is excellent. I cant even think of any questions. Could be a fun one to build. Thanks for the upload!
Thanks and very cool! I look forward to your upcoming Kelvin Water Dropper How to Build! All your stuff rocks!! I see, at your website, that you have experimented with a Lecher wire setup. Is it possible to see it in action and maybe a How to Build??? Herb/WR9H
I love your videos!
Hard to say w/o experimenting. From my process last week, the larger diameter the stream, the longer it falls before breaking into drops. A garden hose sized one would fall quite a distance, if my results scale. It's the charge on the inductors (the cans or rings the water falls through) that repels the charges in the stream, so optimizing that is important. But a larger stream means higher conductivity, though boxerlego's comment below made me think of using salt water for more conductivity.
Ha ha! I was thinking about putting a joke like that in the video somewhere. Maybe I should have put a warning at the beginning "Warning - this video will make you want to pee!".
I agree, it is pretty amazing that it works. Who would have thought that falling water could be charged and carry charge so easily. I haven't made an electric generator though - having too much fun with the Coulomb forces :).
hi! I'm trying to replicate your project and I'm having some troubles to generate sparks, is there any advise that you may give me?
Hi Carlos. I was waiting to respond until I updated my webpage with an improved "Tips and tricks for making it work" section (it's easier than repeating all the tips in the comments each time.) It's at:
http://rimstar.org/science_electronics_projects/how_to_make_a_kelvin_water_dropper.htm
After seeing your photos on facebook I'd suggest you pay special attention to the subsection on the "Size of the inductors" and also "The spark gap".
Wow. Haven't heard of this machine yet. It seems like witchcraft or something ;) .
that would be neat if it could be scaled up and made into a continuously running fountain as a more permanent display...
excelente video. al fin algo bien explicado
You are cool:)
perhaps with longer inductors or magnetizing the can?
"no human being would stack books like this" - Dr. Peter Venkman, Ghostbusters 1984
Rolf R Bakke - 2014-10-08
I need to pee :)
arctictimberwolf - 2016-11-23
Yep it works with pea 2.
Sweet Pea
E-Nonymouse - 2019-08-22
me too