Activity 1: How a Dam Works

A conventional dam holds water in a man-made lake, or reservoir, behind it. When water is released through the dam, it spins a turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity. The water returns to the river on the downstream side of the dam.

A hydroelectric dam converts the potential energy stored in a water reservoir behind a dam to kinetic energy. As the water flows down through the dam its kinetic energy is used to turn a turbine.

Image credit: OKJaguar. (2019).Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quanah_Parker_Lake_dam.jpg

Activity 2: Review

Note: questions for this review are from OpenStax High School Physics textbook.

Activity 3: Work, Power and Efficiency

When work is done on an object, energy is transferred. Power is the amount of work done in one second. Efficiency is a measure of how much useful energy is converted.

Check this BBC Bitesize page 

• to review the concepts of work, power and efficiency;
• to see examples of problems with solutions – Revise option;
• to test your knowledge of Kinetic Theory – Test option.

Activity 4: Kinetic and Gravitational Potential Energy

Learn about kinetic and gravitational potential energy.

Check this BBC Bitesize page 

• to review kinetic and gravitational potential energy;
• to see examples of problems with solutions – Revise option;
• to test your knowledge of Kinetic Theory – Test option.