Final answer:
In large hydroelectric power plants, energy transfer from moving water is enhanced by using turbines connected to generators, converting potential energy to kinetic energy and then to electric energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In large hydroelectric power plants, the transfer of energy from moving water is enhanced by the use of turbines and dams. The stored water behind the dam has potential energy and, when released, this energy is converted to kinetic energy as the water flows through the turbines. This flowing water spins the turbines, which are connected to generators that produce electric current, thus transmitting electric energy in massive quantities.
Hydroelectric facilities, such as the Srisailam power station located along the Krishna River in India, harness this energy transformation process. Alternatives to traditional dam-based hydroelectric plants include ‘run-of-the-river’ systems that divert a portion of a river’s water through penstocks to turn a waterwheel or turbine, and pumped storage systems that move water between reservoirs at different elevations.