Chapter 8, Problem 4AC

The hydroelectric plant at the Itaipu Dam, located on the Parana River between Paraguay and Brazil, uses the transfer of potential to kinetic energy of water to generate electricity. (a) If 1.00 × 10⁶ gallons of water (3.70 × 10⁶ kg) flows down 142 m into the turbines each second, how much power does the hydroelectric power plant generate? (For comparison purposes, the Hoover Dam generates 1.57 × 10⁶ w of power.) (b) How much power could the plant produce if the Itaipu Dam were twice its actual height? (c) Explain why the height of a dam is important for hydroelectric power plants.