The paper discusses the lecture demonstration of the phenomenon in which a drop lying on a solid unwettable substrate performs a jump when making the transition to weightlessness. An elementary theory of the phenomenon is given. A jump speed estimate is obtained for small and large drops. The natural vibrational frequency of a flying drop is determined. A full-scale model of Einstein's lift is described. Experimental and theoretical results are found to agree satisfactorily.

Keywords: lecture demonstrations, liquid drop, transition to weightlessness, natural oscillations, Einstein's lift PACS: 01.50.My, 47.55.D− (all) DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2016.04.037815 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2017/1/f/ 000399464900007 2-s2.0-85020275258 2017PhyU...60..108M Citation: Mayer V V, Varaksina E I, Saranin V A "A drop jumps to weightlessness: a lecture demo" Phys. Usp. 60 108–113 (2017) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Received: 23rd, April 2016, accepted: 26th, April 2016 Оригинал: Майер В В, Вараксина Е И, Саранин В А «Лекционные демонстрации прыжка капли в невесомость» УФН 187 119–124 (2017); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2016.04.037815