Final answer:
The power of a hydro plant is determined by the height of the reservoir head and the flow rate of water, which together influence the potential energy and power output. Factors such as the density of water, the acceleration due to gravity, and system efficiency are also integral to power calculations for hydro plants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount of power for a hydro plant is primarily determined by the height of the head and the flow rate of water. The height of the water provides a 'pressure head' that influences the potential energy available as the water falls. The flow rate measures the volume of water that passes a certain point per unit of time, directly affecting the overall energy output.
Using the given figures, if a dam has a flow rate of 2,000 m³/s and a reservoir height of 50 m, the mass of water passing every second would be 2 × 10¶ kg (since the density of water is 1,000 kg/m³). The gravitational potential energy (mgh) available can be approximated to 10¹ joules per second. Assuming a 90% efficiency, the hydro plant would deliver around 900 MW of electrical power.
While the area of the reservoir and the amount of dissolved oxygen (DO) impact the ecosystem and the overall management of the reservoir, they do not directly affect the power generation capacity. The acceleration due to gravity on Earth is also crucial as it figures in the potential energy equation (mgh). However, since gravity is approximately constant on Earth's surface, it is usually a fixed figure in calculations.