Dam!+It's+tall!+Inquiry+Project+2

Enzo Leon __ Dam! THAT’S TALL! __  **__Problem Statement: __**The effect of reservoir height on hydroelectric power production. **__Background: __** In this experiment, the effect of reservoir height on hydroelectric power production will be tested. The ability to be able to use hydropower as an alternative has been around for quite a long time. Hydroelectricity is important because of its advantages, for example, hydroelectricity is very renewable and it causes little pollution to the environment around it. However, as useful it may be, it still has its disadvantages, for instance, it is costly to build, it has the capability of causing inundations, and it can also affect the habitats of native species of animals. Hydroelectric power is produced by a flowing stream of water from a reservoir that spins a turbine at such a high speed, it causes magnets within the generator of the turbine to spin fast as well, thus creating electricity that could be sent to homes across the United States! Unfortunately, only 7% of the energy created at hydroelectric power plants is actually used in the U.S.  A reservoir is an artificially made lake created by either blocked up streams/rivers or a giant gaping hole in the ground. Reservoirs are usually placed above a dam to build up water pressure in the turbines. More water pressure equals higher production of electricity because such high pressure causes the turbine to spin at much higher speeds. This means, the higher a reservoir is placed above a dam, greater amounts of gravity will act upon the flowing stream thus making the water flow past the turbine at high speed causing higher amounts of pressure than just placing it regularly at the height of the dam. So, since the reservoirs in the experiment will be placed at different elevations, some variables will be kept constant in order to prevent the flowing water from being affected in any sort of way. First, the environment must be kept the same in order not to affect the directional flow of the river because specific terrain can affect the speed at which the stream flows: such as the milk jug being tilted to a side more than another. Second, the water must be kept the same and third, the dam must also be kept the same. **__Hypothesis __**: If the reservoir height is higher then the amount of hydroelectric production would increase. - Make the first in the center 3.5 inches from the bottom - Make the second 1 inch to the left of the center and 1 inch from the bottom - The last is 1 inch to the right of the center and 6 inches up from the bottom
 * __Materials __**:
 * Tape measure
 * Plastic milk jug
 * Ruler
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">1-inch nail
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Duct tape
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Stepping tool
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Timer
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Water
 * __<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Procedures __**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Rinse the milk jug so there is nothing affecting the experiment
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Use a ruler and a marker to mark where to punch holes with the nail
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Puncture each mark with the nail
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Cover the diagonal holes with a strip of duct tape, cover tightly
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Place the milk jug on an area such as a stepping stool
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Fill the jug to the top with water
 * 5) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Remove duct tape and begin timing until water cannot come out of the holes. Record height and time.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Repeat step 7 several times at different heights

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Cited at- []