Hydroelectric dam Science project

Key principles
Possible power
Kinetic energy
Hydrostatic stress
Hydroelectricity
Gravity

Introduction
You might not think much about making use of water for ingesting, cooking, washing or swimming. But did you know that water-can also be used to help make electrical energy? Try this fun activity to learn about hydroelectric power.

Background
Because of gravity, all objects and materials have actually possible power if they are raised above the surface. Whenever these items fall straight back toward the bottom, the potential energy sources are transformed into kinetic, or motion, power. Regarding falling water you can use it to make anything known as a turbine, which looks like a propeller. If whirling turbine is linked to an electric powered generator, it may make electricity. This type of electricity created by falling water is called hydroelectric energy ("hydro" suggests liquid).

How do we harness the power of falling water? To create lots of electrical energy you want most water falling very fast within one destination. That means rain is not a good way to produce hydroelectricity, because it is disseminate over a tremendously huge area and takes place at unstable times. Waterfalls have many water falling in one spot, but for their natural beauty many are considered normal landmarks and holidaymaker destinations, so individuals wouldn't be pleased when we built ugly power flowers on top of them. One way to this problem is to build dams, or huge frameworks that restrain a stream or lake. This causes a deep pond, aka a reservoir, to form, many of that water-can be used to generate electricity when it flows through dam (whereas the rest will continue to move within the falls). Inside task you will definitely investigate where a turbine must certanly be placed to generate many electrical energy.

Note that although hydroelectric power is considered a type of renewable energy, it can involve some ecological impacts: the big ponds formed by dams can destroy present pet habitats; blocking off streams can mean numerous organisms particularly fish can't move from area to another; and catastrophic failure of a dam causes extreme floods and loss of life. If you should be interested, can be done a analysis on prices and benefits of hydroelectric energy.

Materials

• Milk jug or two-liter soft drink bottle
• Tiny nail
• Plain tap water
• Duct tape
• Seat, stool or stepladder
• Tub, big sink or outdoor space where you could pour water
• Tape measure (optional)

Planning

• Gather your materials inside a location where you could spill water on the floor, such as for example outdoors or in a bathtub.

Process

• Use the nail to very carefully strike three little holes within one region of the milk jug: one nearby the top, one out of the center and something close to the base. Make sure to offset the holes from 1 another horizontally by some centimeters. (The holes should not be straight above the other person in a straight line.)
• Make use of items of duct tape to tightly seal on the holes.
• Fill the jug with liquid. Make certain you fill it past the top hole. Look very carefully to see if duct tape seal is holding in liquid before starting your test.
• Set the jug on an increased area such as for instance excrement or stepladder in a location where you could put water on the floor.
• Prepare yourself to quickly remove the duct tape. What do you believe can happen when you get rid of the tape? Exactly how will liquid movement out of the holes? Will water appearing out of the three holes act equivalent or in a different way?
• Rapidly peel from the lime all three pieces of duct tape. Watch closely. What happens? Where perform some streams of liquid hit the surface?
• Continue watching as liquid drains from the jug. Perform some channels of water still strike the ground in the same destination or does it alter since the jug empties?
• Pretend your milk jug is a dam together with liquid inside could be the pond this has produced. In which can you spot a turbine to build the most electrical energy from water?
• Additional: Use a tape measure on a lawn to record how far water gushes out. How exactly does this distance modification if you raise or lower[OK?] the level for the jug from the surface? How exactly does it vary among the holes?
• Additional: Try the activity with various forms of containers, with holes punched at same levels from the base. What goes on if you contrast a milk jug and a two-liter soda bottle? Does the shape of this container impact what lengths water channels away?
• Additional: utilize different dimensions nails to punch holes (or have a grown-up help you make use of an electrical drill which will make holes). Does the dimensions of the hole influence what lengths water moves or how quickly the jug empties?