Water+Power

//by Darrith Phan and Bradley Fusco// **
 * Wave Hello to Water Power

media type="youtube" key="tSBACzRE3Gw" height="340" width="575" This video above shows many ways how water can be turned into energy. [14] media type="youtube" key="cEL7yc8R42k" height="385" width="640" This video shows how hydroelectricity works. It also shows different power stations around the country. [13]


 * Important Vocabulary Terms**
 * __Generator__- A machine that converts one form of energy into another, esp. mechanical energy into electrical energy, as a dynamo, or electrical energy into sound, as an acoustic generator. [2]
 * __Dam__- A barrier to obstruct the flow of water, esp. one of earth, masonry, etc., built across a stream or river. [1]
 * __Reservoir__- A natural or artificial place where water is collected and stored for use, esp. water for supplying a community, irrigating land, furnishing power, etc. [7]
 * __Sluice__- An artificial channel for conducting water, often fitted with a gate **(sluice gate)** at the upper end for regulating the flow. [10]
 * __Salter Duck__- A device that generates electricity by bobbing up and down with the waves.
 * __Giant Clams__- Floating air bags are squeezed by waves, which rise and fall beneath them. The air is squeezed form one bag to anothermaking generators spin.
 * __Sea Snake__- Anchored at one end and moves with the waves
 * __Moon__- the moon causes tides with its gravitational pull. It pulls water towards the side of the earth that is closest to it, causing high tides.
 * __Tidal Mills__- the rising water, from the incoming tides, is trapped behind a wooden gate. When the tide turns, it pushes the gate closed, which traps the water.When the tide retreats, it alows the trapped water to move through a water wheel.
 * __Water Wheels__- when the wheel is dipped in moving water. The force of the water turns the wheel creating power.
 * __Power Stations__- Stations where they convert the water into energy with the generators. [3]

**Recent News Articles** 1. Hydroelectric Power- "[|More Reliable Forecasts for Water Flows Can Reduce Price of Electricity] " The link shown above is an article about how forecasts could be predicted better so they could produce more water and energy.

2. Wave/Tidal Power- "[|Wave and Tidal Power Development Status] " The link shown above explains the difference between Wave Power, and Tidal Power, and how it is being developed.

**Advantages of Tidal Power**
 * ​Cheap to maintain
 * No waste or pollution
 * Very reliable [11]


 * Disadvantages of Tidal Power **
 * Changes the coastline completely; some of the habbitats are destroyed
 * Building cost is expensive
 * Water is not replenished
 * Can only produce 10 hours of energy [11]


 * Advantages of Hydroelectric Power **
 * Clean, doesn't cause pollution
 * Will never run out
 * Always available day and night
 * Easier/cheaper to run that fossil-fueled power stations [8]


 * Disadvantages of Hydroelectric Power **
 * Very expensive to build power stations
 * When building stations, it can damage wildlife and the environment [8]

1. Water is kept in a reservoir by building a dam across a river. 2. Water builds up behind the dam and overflows. 3. Sluice gates are opened at the bottom of the dam to let water into a tunnel. 4. Water gathers speed as it goes down tunnel. 5. The fast moving water spins the blades on the turbine, creating electricity. 6. Cables carry electricity away and water flows back into the river. [8]
 * Steps of Hydroelectric Energy Production **

1. Water that is kept in reservoir goes down tunnel having gravitational potential energy which is converted into kinetic energy. 2. Kinetic Energy from the water makes blades to turn creating work energy. 3. The work energy from the blades makes the turbine create electric energy. [8]
 * Explanation of the Conservation of Energy

Steps of Wave Power Production **
 * 1) The air bags on the giant clams are squeezed by passign wave.
 * 2) The passing waves rise and fall between them.
 * 3) The air inside it is squeezed from one bag to another.
 * 4) The generators between the bags spin when the air is being pushed through, creating energy. [3]


 * Explanation of the Conservation of Energy **
 * 1) When the water is moving in a stream it has kinetic energy
 * 2) The potential energy turns into gravitational energy when the water wheel lifts the water up
 * 3) The water's gravitational energy turns back into kinetic when the wheel dumps it out [3]



This pictures shows the inside of the generator. When water flows in through the bottom the turbine blades spin in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction. Since they are connected, the rotor also spins which creates electricity. [5]



This picture shows the generators inside hoover dam, on of the largest hydroelectric power generating station in the world. [4]



This picture shows a water wheel. A water wheel is one of the ways you can get energy from water. When the wheel is dipped in water, the water pushes against it making it rotate.[6]



On the right, it shows sea snakes. They also create tidal power. Sea snakes are anchored at one end, and they travel up and down with the wave.[9]

** 1. "Dam | Define Dam at Dictionary.com." //Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com//. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .
 * Bibliography

2. "Generator | Define Generator at Dictionary.com." //Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com//. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .

3. Graham, Ian. //Water Power//. Austin, Tex: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1999. Print.

4. "Hoover Dam." //Home Page//. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .

5. "OPA - Generation Development: Hydroelectric." //OPA - Ontario Power Authority//. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .

6. "Photo Exhibit Highlights Water Wheel History, Design." //MIT//. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .

7. "Reservoir | Define Reservoir at Dictionary.com." //Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com//. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .

8. Richards, Julie. //Water Power//. North Mankato, Minn.: Smart Apple Media, 2004. Print.

9. "Sea 'snake' Generates Electricity with Every Wave - Tech - 07 May 2009 - New Scientist." //Science News and Science Jobs from New Scientist - New Scientist//. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .

10. "Sluice | Define Sluice at Dictionary.com." //Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com//. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .

11. "Tidal Power." //Oracle ThinkQuest Library//. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .

12. "Wave and Tidal Power: Why the Delay?" //Agrion//. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .

13. "YouTube - Hydroelectic Power - How It Works." //YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.// Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .

14. "YouTube - Tidal Wave Alternative Energy." //YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.// Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .