Hydroelectric dams capture kinetic energy and potential energy as water flows through them.
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Potential Energy: When water is stored in a reservoir behind the dam, it has potential energy due to its height. The higher the water is stored, the more potential energy it possesses.
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Kinetic Energy: As the water is released and flows down through the dam, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy due to the movement of the water.
When the fast-moving water turns turbines in the dam, the kinetic energy is then transformed into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is subsequently converted into electrical energy using generators.
Thus, hydroelectric dams effectively harness both potential and kinetic energy from the water to generate electricity.