Water

= Energy Source: Hydro Power (Water) = toc

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What is it?
media type="file" key="w1.mp3" width="240" height="20" We all know what water is, but what is hydro power (water power)? Water is always falling to the earth as **precipitation** and then **evaporating** again as a part of the water cycle. Water can produce a lot of power, and that power can be used to create energy. Water is a **renewable resource** because it will not run out.

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How does it work?
media type="file" key="w2.mp3" width="240" height="20" The energy from water is captured when water flows or falls quickly. The moving water spins a **turbine** inside of a **generator**, and the motion from the turbine creates electricity. Sometimes, hydro power is produced from a fast-moving river or from the ocean tides. Other times, water is collected in a dam and held back until it is needed. The Hoover Dam (image on left) is one of the most famous hydroelectric power plants in the United States. It was built in 1935 on the border between Arizona and Nevada and has become a very busy tourist attraction!

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Hydro power is used to create electricity in places called hydroelectric power plants. Canada is actually the largest producer of hydro power in the world, but the U.S. is second. Over half of the water power produced in the United States comes from three states on the west coast – Washington, Oregon, and California. The largest hydroelectric power plant in the U.S. is the Grand Coulee Dam in the state of Washington (image on right).

What are the advantages?
media type="file" key="w4.mp3" width="240" height="20" Hydro power is pretty cheap to produce. All you need is some water and a generator. It is also very clean. Hydroelectricity does not produce any pollution, and the water comes out of the generators as clean as it was when it went in. Also, water can be stored in dams and then released as soon as it is needed. It doesn’t take a long time to turn it into electricity.

What are the disadvantages?
media type="file" key="w5.mp3" width="240" height="20" Even though hydro power does not produce pollution, it can still damage the environment. To run a giant hydro power plant, you need a LOT of water. All of that water has to come from somewhere, and if you take too much, animals and plants can die. Also, people who don’t live near a large body of water (like a river, lake, or ocean) still need to use other kinds of energy sometimes.

Is there a solution for using hydro power in the future?
media type="file" key="w6.mp3" width="240" height="20" What do you think? Should we use hydropower more or less than we do now? What will we need to do to make your solution work?

Bibliography

©2008 E. Crispino