Final answer:
Water is indeed supplied to a hydroelectric turbine through a dam with a head of 50 meters. The 'head' is crucial as it denotes the potential gravitational energy available for conversion to electricity.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, water is supplied to a hydroelectric turbine through a dam with a head of 50m. In the context of hydroelectric power plants, the term 'head' refers to the vertical distance the water falls before reaching the turbines. This height is a critical factor in determining the potential gravitational energy available to be converted into electricity.
Understanding Hydroelectric Power Generation
Hydroelectric power is generated when water stored behind a dam flows through turbines, which in turn drive generators to produce electricity. The gravitational potential energy of the water, due to its height above the turbines, is transformed into mechanical energy as it flows down, and subsequently into electrical energy by the generators.
For example, at a dam 50 meters high that is delivering 180 MW of power at a moment in time, the flow rate of the water in cubic meters per second, assuming the facility converts gravitational potential energy into electricity at 90% efficiency, can be calculated using physics formulae that relate gravitational potential energy, power, and flow rate.
Furthermore, if the system is water, then the environment that is doing work on it is gravity acting on the water due to the height of the dam. Hydroelectricity production efficiency can be greatly impacted by the height of the dam and the volume and speed of water flow.