Question

19. Engineer It In some rivers and lakes, dams

are constructed to harvest energy by converting the
kinetic energy of moving water into electrical energy.
Water from behind the dam flows through a turbine
that transforms kinetic energy into mechanical
energy. The turbine turns a generator that converts
mechanical energy into electrical energy.
The water from behind the dam could flow to the
turbine either through an opening near the middle or
top of the dam or by flowing over the top of the dam.
Which type of water flow would be the best design for
sending a consistent flow of water past the turbines?
Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

A hydroelectric dam converts the potential energy stored in a water reservoir behind a dam to mechanical energy—mechanical energy is also known as kinetic energy. As the water flows down through the dam its kinetic energy is used to turn a turbine.

Step-by-step explanation: