The Kelvin Water Dropper
For the construction of my Kelvin Water Dropper project, I used: two 1-gallon metal paint buckets, two insulated copper wires, two brass balls, two empty cans, a water jug, plastic tubing, two end caps, a plastic plumbing “T”, and dental floss. I first put together the upper part of the system. I removed the lid and bottom of the two cans with a can opener. I drilled two little holes in each can on each side. Before I could suspend the cans from the plastic tubing, I had to cut the two side tubes with approximately the same length and curvature. The two pieces of tubing where hot glued to the “T” to secure the tubing and correct leaks. The top tube was cut approximately 4 inches long. I drilled four little holes, aligned 2x2 in a square, into a plastic end cap to create a nozzle out of which to stream the water. Then, I tied floss to each hole and the other end to a wire that was wrapped around the nozzle. To suspend this upper section of the project to the water jug, the open end of the tube was simply stuck on to the valve of the water jug.
The bottom part of the system consists of two metal paint buckets each with a copper wire wrapped around it. I stripped electrical wires for the two pieces of copper wire. I then wrapped the copper wire around each bucket and twisted the end to keep the wire in place and attach the brass ball. I soldered the brass balls onto the ends of the wires for the spark to occur between.
After this was completed, the two wires that connect the suspended can to the bucket were constructed. I stripped part of the insulated copper electrical wires and wrapped the little copper wires around the screw of four metal clamps, for each end of the two wires.
For the Kelvin water dropper to work, one set of cans and buckets has to be electrically independent of the other. The buckets are set on square pieces of foam board for electric isolation.
The Kelvin water dropper is a system that creates a spark of electricity by using nothing more than the materials mentioned and running water. Water contains ions with equal amounts of positive and negative charges. In this system, a small charge is “amplified” to create a larger charge in the system. When a slightly negative water droplet passes through a can, the right or left, the electrons in the metal can are repelled by this and are moved through the attached wires to the bucket to which it is attached. As the negative water droplets drop through the can, the can is left with a slightly positive charge. More negative water molecules are attracted to the ring and fall into the bucket (the charge amplification), giving both the water and the bucket a negative charge.
Simultaneously, the opposite bucket and can system is charged oppositely from this system. The water and bucket in the first system have a negative charge. Since this bucket is electrically attached to a can by the wire, the can acquires the negative charge. The negative can attracts positive molecules, which give the bucket below it a positive charge. The difference in charge of the two buckets builds up to an extent of discharge, and a spark occurs between the brass balls. After discharge occurs, the charges slowly build again—the process resulting in multiple sparks.
The bottom part of the system consists of two metal paint buckets each with a copper wire wrapped around it. I stripped electrical wires for the two pieces of copper wire. I then wrapped the copper wire around each bucket and twisted the end to keep the wire in place and attach the brass ball. I soldered the brass balls onto the ends of the wires for the spark to occur between.
After this was completed, the two wires that connect the suspended can to the bucket were constructed. I stripped part of the insulated copper electrical wires and wrapped the little copper wires around the screw of four metal clamps, for each end of the two wires.
For the Kelvin water dropper to work, one set of cans and buckets has to be electrically independent of the other. The buckets are set on square pieces of foam board for electric isolation.
The Kelvin water dropper is a system that creates a spark of electricity by using nothing more than the materials mentioned and running water. Water contains ions with equal amounts of positive and negative charges. In this system, a small charge is “amplified” to create a larger charge in the system. When a slightly negative water droplet passes through a can, the right or left, the electrons in the metal can are repelled by this and are moved through the attached wires to the bucket to which it is attached. As the negative water droplets drop through the can, the can is left with a slightly positive charge. More negative water molecules are attracted to the ring and fall into the bucket (the charge amplification), giving both the water and the bucket a negative charge.
Simultaneously, the opposite bucket and can system is charged oppositely from this system. The water and bucket in the first system have a negative charge. Since this bucket is electrically attached to a can by the wire, the can acquires the negative charge. The negative can attracts positive molecules, which give the bucket below it a positive charge. The difference in charge of the two buckets builds up to an extent of discharge, and a spark occurs between the brass balls. After discharge occurs, the charges slowly build again—the process resulting in multiple sparks.
