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)

Question

Responses

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.
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.

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 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.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

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.

In river A (the waterfall), the water falls freely, accelerating due to gravity and gaining kinetic energy as it descends. In contrast, in river B (the hydroelectric dam), some of the water's energy is converted to electrical energy as it turns turbines, meaning that not all of the gravitational potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. Therefore, at the bottom of the drop, the kinetic energy of the water in river A would be greater than that at the hydroelectric dam in river B.