Kelvin's Thunderstorm - Create lightning from water and gravity!

Very nice...I hope they don't waste the water...

Explanation?

I'd have thaught the two bucket/can assemblies would be getting the same polarity of charge as the water strips off charge...I dunno...needs an explanation with some nice fat blue electrons...mmmm fat blue elecrtons ..drool (read that last bit in Homer Simpson voice guys)

I'd get it if there was just 1 assembly sparking to ground. Cmon help guys!

Confuse a Cat

Del

Here are some web sites with explanations, as well as a couple of videos:

http://amasci.com/emotor/kelvin.html

http://www.newphys.se/fnysik/3_1/kelvin/index.html

http://hackedgadgets.com/2007/02/28/water-powered-batteries-with-mit%E2%80%99s-walter-levin-lessons/

http://www.instructables.com/id/ECGJZLRF5Y3TLMJ/

Cheers..the first link just fudges the issue. !

The second explains by saying it is electrially unstable so any imballance will get bigger and bigger ..eg the drips will strip off -ve from oneside causing its bucket to become negative. This charge is conducted to the opposite top can which then repels + ions into the downward traveling drips to make the other bucket positive.

A less confused

Del

Interesting.... he does describe how it works towards the end,, not sure if he's totally right though...

We all know that using a hose generates static electricity, that's why hose cleaning of flammable liquid tanks means you have to connect the hose to the tank electrically to prevent sparks and a fire / explosion risk...

But why use two unless its just to increase the charge?

John.