Hydroelectric Power

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Hydroelectric Power

• Earths Energy Needs
• By Hannah M., Julia K., and Sam C.

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• Hydropower generates electricity by water.
• It is one of the oldest sources of energy because
  it was used thousands of years ago to turn a
  paddle wheel for purposes such as grinding grain.
  Until 1880 coal was the only source of fuel to
  produce energy and coal is very bad for the
  environment.

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• Hydropower works by a turbine converting the
  kinetic energy of falling water into mechanical
  energy. Then a generator converts the mechanical
  energy from the turbine into electrical energy.

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Lester Allan Pelton

• Lester Allan Pelton invented the fist
  water-powered energy, the water-wheel. He was
  born in 1829 in Vermillion, Ohio. Later he moved
  to California and created the first waterwheel.
  He later died in 1908.

To the left is his original hydroelectric plant
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Dams

• Dams are a great example of Hydropower. Dams
  raise the level of the river to create falling
  water. It also controls the flow of the water.

This is an illustration of a Hydroelectric dam
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What Scientists Are Experimenting Within This
Field

• Since hydropower captures the energy of falling
  water to generate electricity, scientists are
  experimenting how much electricity dams can
  produce depending on the size of the dam. Dams
  range in size from micro-hydros to big ones
  that power over 10,000,000 homes like the hover
  dam.

Power (Height of Dam) x (River Flow) x
(Efficiency) / 11.8
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How We Can Apply These Ideas for Energy
Conservation

• Hydropower is almost free, uses no waste
  products, and does not pollute the water. It
  conserves energy because it is a renewable
  resource and it does deplete earth of its natural
  recourses because it uses the motion of the water
  to create energy.

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How we can help hydropower with everyday easy
work

• How to help hydroelectric dams. If your ever are
  on a boat or fishing (somewhere next to or in the
  water) and see a stick or something please take
  it out of the water because these can get stuck
  in the turbines and could clog the dam ending in
  a repair which would be quite expensive.

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How These Energy Needs Will Be Met In the Future

• We need to conserve energy so our next generation
  will have a clean earth. As stated before,
  hydropower does not deplete the earths natural
  resources.

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• Credits
• By Hannah M., Julia K., and Sam C.
• Info from
• http//www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/re
  newable/water.html
• http//www.wvic.com/hydro-works.htm