Two different rivers have drops that are the same height. In river A, this drop of the river is a waterfall. In river B, this drop has the generator for a hydroelectric dam. In what way does the energy of the water differ between the drops in the two rivers?(1 point) Responses The potential energy of the water would be greater at the top of the drop in the waterfall river A than at the hydroelectric dam in river B. The potential energy of the water would be greater at the top of the drop in the waterfall river A than at the hydroelectric dam in river B. The kinetic energy of the water would be less at the bottom of the drop in the waterfall river A than at the hydroelectric dam river B. The kinetic energy of the water would be less at the bottom of the drop in the waterfall river A than at the hydroelectric dam river B. The potential energy of the water would be less at the top of the drop in the waterfall river A than at the hydroelectric dam in river B. The potential energy of the water would be less at the top of the drop in the waterfall river A than at the hydroelectric dam in river B. The kinetic energy of the water would be greater at the bottom of the drop in the waterfall river A than at the hydroelectric dam in river B.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

"The kinetic energy of the water would be less at the bottom of the drop in the waterfall river A than at the hydroelectric dam river B."

Here's the reasoning:

Both rivers have the same height drop, so the potential energy at the top is the same for both. However, as the water falls, in river B, the hydroelectric dam captures some of the energy to convert it into electricity. As a result, the kinetic energy of the water at the bottom of the dam (river B) is likely to be greater since the dam allows for more controlled and directed flow, increasing its speed. In contrast, at the waterfall (river A), the water cascades down without being harnessed for electricity, which can lead to a dispersion of energy as it splashes down. This generally means that the water at the bottom of the waterfall would have less kinetic energy compared to the water exiting from a hydroelectric dam.