Question

Gulag Dam, Yahtzee Dam, and Jinka Rhina Dam have 3 different heights as described in the table below.

Dam Height (m)
Gulag 132
Yahtzee 147
Jinka Rhina 181

Which dam has the ability to produce the most electricity, based only on height?


A. The Gulag because the dam has a shorter drop and the water will have the most potential energy to transfer to the turbine.
B. The Yahtzee because the drop at this height will have the most kinetic energy to transfer to the turbine.
C. The Jinka Rhina because the dam has the largest drop and the water produces the most kinetic energy to transfer to the turbine.
D. It is impossible to determine based on the data in the table.

Answer 1

The correct answer is D. The height of a dam is only one of many factors that determine its ability to produce electricity. Other important factors include the volume of water that can be held in the reservoir, the flow rate of the water, and the efficiency of the power generation equipment. Therefore, it is impossible to determine which dam has the ability to produce the most electricity based solely on its height.