Using Potential and Kinetic Energy Quick Check

Question

2 of 42 of 4 Items
Question
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 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 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 greater at the top of the drop in the waterfall river A than at the hydroelectric dam in river B.

Answer 1

To compare the two situations described in river A (a waterfall) and river B (a hydroelectric dam), we can analyze the energy transformations occurring in each case.

Both rivers have drops of the same height, which means that at the top of the drop, the potential energy of the water is the same in both cases, as potential energy is dependent on the height above the ground.

As the water falls, its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. However, in the case of river B, where there is a hydroelectric dam, some of the kinetic energy is likely converted into electrical energy through turbines before reaching the bottom of the drop. Therefore, the kinetic energy of the water at the bottom of the drop in river B would be less than that in river A.

Given this understanding, the appropriate response would be:

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 in river B.

This reflects that the energy in river B is utilized for electricity generation, reducing the kinetic energy of water at the drop's bottom compared to river A, where kinetic energy is not converted in that way.