Unit 8: Hydroelectric

Question 1

How is hydroelectric used to produce power?

Answer 1

A hydroelectric power plant captures water’s kinetic energy and uses it to turn a turbine.

Question 2

Dam

Answer 2

The gates of a dam are opened and closed, allowing operators to control the flow rate of the water that turns the turbine.

Question 3

Tidal energy

Answer 3

The movement of water driven by the gravitational pull of the moon. Uses gates and turbines to capture kinetic energy of water flowing through estuaries, rivers, and bays.

Question 4

Hydroelectric advantages

Answer 4

Renewable, minimal use of fossil fuels once built, creates large amounts of energy, no air pollution, no waste, no CO2, less expensive energy, downstream flood control, recreation.

Question 5

Hydroelectric disadvantages

Answer 5

Disrupts habitats, expensive to build, possible floods, reservoirs contain less oxygen and more heat, alters river dynamics, CO2 release while building, sediment accumulation.

Question 6

Examples of hydroelectricity

Answer 6

Run of the river, water impoundment, tidal systems.

Question 7

Run of the river system

Answer 7

Water is retained behind a low dam and runs through a channel and generator before returning to the river.