Question

Electricity generated by water stored in hydro power plant is an inderect source of solar energy. Justify the statemnent by discussing in sequence the series of energy transformation taking place.

Answer 1

Water in a dam is collected due to melting of ice due to the heat of sun energy. Thus electricity generated by the water stored in a dam can be considered to be another form of solar energy.

Process involved in the transformation of energy as as follows:
The potential energy of water stored in a dam is converted into kinetic energy when water is allowed to fall. Kinetic energy of moving water is converted into mechanical energy when it rotates turbines which in turn operates the generator to produce electricity.
Thus, Potential energy is converted to Kinetic energy which in turn is converted into Mechanical energy and then finally converted to Electrical energy.