Hydropower: Harnessing Water's Energy

What is the primary force behind the movement of water from high to low elevation?

How has hydropower been historically used?

What is the term used to describe the production of electricity using hydropower?

What is the root word of 'hydropower' that means water?

What was a significant invention that led to the production of electricity using hydropower?

What is one of the advantages of using hydroelectric power in the United States?

What is a negative impact of damming waterways on local ecosystems?

What is one way to mitigate the problem of disrupting the natural flow of the river?

What is a drawback of creating reservoirs for hydroelectric power?

Why is hydroelectric power considered cost-effective?

What percentage of the total clean energy produced in the United States comes from hydroelectric power?

What is the primary source of water for hydroelectric power plants?

What is the purpose of building dams in hydroelectric power plants?

What is the benefit of hydroelectric power in terms of climate change?

How does the turbine generate electricity in a hydroelectric power plant?

What is Hydropower?

Hydropower is the natural force created by water as it moves from areas of high elevation to areas of low elevation, producing kinetic energy.

Historical Use of Hydropower

Hydropower has been used historically to power mills that milled wheat into flour, to power hammers that break and process ore, and in papermaking.

Modern Use of Hydropower

Hydropower is used to produce electricity, with the U.S. using hydroelectric power to produce 7.3% of its total generated electricity and 37% of its total clean energy.

Electricity Generation

To produce electricity using water, there must be a flow of water and a turbine connected to an electrical generator.
The water cycle provides the flow of water, with water evaporating, condensing, and falling back to Earth as precipitation.
Rivers and streams flow from areas of high elevation to areas of low elevation, collecting into larger bodies of water and eventually penetrating the soil or flowing into the ocean.
Hydroelectric power plants are built on rivers, with dams creating artificial bodies of stored water (reservoirs) to control the flow of water.
Water flows through holes in the dam (penstock), turning a turbine and powering a generator, producing electricity.

Hydropower Pros and Cons

Benefits of Hydropower

Hydropower is a renewable resource, as water is constantly recycled in the water cycle.
It is a clean energy resource, without the use of fossil fuels that pollute the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.
Hydropower is flexible, cost-effective, and can provide a local power source.

Disadvantages of Hydropower

Damming of waterways can disrupt local ecosystems, change water temperatures, and affect plant and animal species.
Creating reservoirs can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and disrupt the natural flow of rivers.
Fish ladders have been invented to mitigate problems with migratory fish.
Damming can affect organisms that rely on higher water levels or specific flows of water.

Explore the concept of hydropower and how water is used to generate power. Learn about the history and modern applications of harnessing water's energy.