Which statement correctly identifies the relative levels of kinetic and potential energy in a hydroelectric dam
Kinetic and potential energy are both highest at the top
Kinetic energy is highest bottom; potential energy in highest at the top
Kinetic energy is highest top; potential energy is highest at the bottom
Kinetic and potential energy are both highest at the bottom
What is the correct answer?
The correct answer is: Kinetic energy is highest top; potential energy is highest at the bottom.
The correct answer is: Kinetic energy is highest at the top; potential energy is highest at the bottom.
The correct answer is:
Kinetic energy is highest at the bottom, and potential energy is highest at the top.
To understand why, let's first define kinetic and potential energy.
Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by a moving object. It depends on the mass of the object and its velocity. The equation for calculating kinetic energy is KE = 1/2 * m * v^2, where KE is kinetic energy, m is mass, and v is velocity.
Potential energy, in this context, refers to gravitational potential energy. It is the energy stored in an object due to its position relative to the Earth's surface. The equation for calculating potential energy is PE = m * g * h, where PE is potential energy, m is mass, g is acceleration due to gravity (~9.8 m/s^2), and h is the height or vertical distance above a reference point.
Now, let's consider a hydroelectric dam. A dam stores potential energy by restricting the flow of water from a higher elevation to a lower elevation. At the top of the dam, the water has the greatest height or vertical distance from the reference point (usually the base of the dam). This means that the potential energy at the top is the highest.
As water flows down the dam, its height decreases, resulting in a decrease in potential energy. However, this decrease in potential energy is compensated by an increase in kinetic energy. According to the law of conservation of energy, the total energy remains constant. So, as the water flows down, it gains kinetic energy, reaching its highest level at the bottom.
Hence, the correct statement is: Kinetic energy is highest at the bottom; potential energy is highest at the top.