city gets its electricity from a dam, where water is stored in a reservoir. How does the water provide the city with its power?

Question

Responses

Mechanical energy in the water is transferred to turbines that spin a generator, which changes the mechanical energy into electricity.

Kinetic energy in the water becomes potential energy as the water moves through turbines, where kinetic energy becomes mechanical energy that spins a generator.

Potential energy in the water becomes kinetic energy as it moves through turbines, which turn kinetic energy into mechanical energy that spins a generator, which changes mechanical energy into electricity.

Chemical energy in the water becomes thermal energy as it moves through turbines, which change thermal energy into electricity.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

Potential energy in the water becomes kinetic energy as it moves through turbines, which turn kinetic energy into mechanical energy that spins a generator, which changes mechanical energy into electricity.

This explanation accurately describes the process of hydroelectric power generation, where the potential energy stored in the water at a height is converted to kinetic energy as it flows down, then to mechanical energy in the turbines, and finally to electrical energy through the generator.