Hydroelectric Energy

• What is the process by which water in rivers flows to lakes and oceans called?

  Water cycle
• What happens to water in lakes and the sea during the water cycle?


  It evaporates to form clouds.
• What provides thermal energy to water during evaporation?


  The sun
• What does water vapor do after it cools?


  It condenses to form rain.
• What type of energy does rain have when it falls to the surface?

  Gravitational potential energy
• How does water in a river convert its energy as it flows?

  It converts gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy.
• What is hydroelectric power?


  It is the process of generating electricity using kinetic energy from rivers.
• Where are hydroelectric power stations usually built?


  Into dams
• What happens to the gravitational potential energy of water in a dam?


  It is converted to kinetic energy as the water flows downhill.
• What drives the generator in a hydroelectric power station?

  The turbine spun by the kinetic energy of flowing water.
• What are the economic factors to consider when building a dam?

  The cost of construction and operation.
• What is a significant environmental impact of building a dam?

  It can destroy the local environment and create a new lake.
• What are the advantages of hydroelectric energy?


  It is clean, renewable, and reliable.
• What are the disadvantages of hydroelectric energy?


  It is expensive to build and impacts the local environment.
• What are the energy changes that take place in a hydroelectric power station?


  • Gravitational potential energy of water is converted to kinetic energy as it flows downhill.
  • Kinetic energy is transferred to a turbine.
  • The turbine drives a generator to produce electricity.
• What are the economic and environmental factors to consider when building hydroelectric power stations?


  Economic factors:

  • High construction costs
  • Low operational costs

  
  

  Environmental factors:

  • Destruction of local environments
  • Creation of new lakes