ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Kelvin water dropper

The Kelvin water dropper is a toy that shows how electricity can be created by moving water. Think of it like a magic trick, but with science!

Here's how it works: You start with two containers - one on top of the other. The top container has a small hole in the bottom, and water drips out of it into the bottom container.

Now, you might think that the water just moves from the top container to the bottom one, but with the Kelvin water dropper, something else happens. When the water is dripping out of the top container, it's also carrying a tiny electrical charge.

The bottom container is connected to the ground - which means it's like a big "sink" for electricity. So, as the water drips down and electricity builds up, the bottom container gets more and more of an electric charge.

When the bottom container is charged enough, it can create a spark - which is like a little bolt of electricity. This spark can jump from the bottom container to a wire, and then travel through the wire to another container. That container can then become charged too!

So, the Kelvin water dropper is a way to show how electricity can be created by moving water - and how that electricity can be used to make things happen. It's a fun science toy that can help you learn about the world around you!