Energy transformations

We know that energy can not be created or destroyed but it can change from one form into another. We see examples of such transformations every day.

We will now try some exercises.

All energy on Earth has originated from the Sun. We change the many forms of energy into electrical energy to drive our modern cities and to maintain our standard of living. There are many different types of power stations, two of which are coal fired and hydro-electric power plants. Although both coal-fired and hydro-electric power plants use generators to produce electricity it is the method each uses to spin the turbines driving the generators that is different.

Coal fired power stations.

Water from great hights is used to turn the generators of a hydro-electric power station.

It is said that the electrical energy from coal-fired and hydro-electric power plants started as solar energy. Explain. Use the following words in your explanation.
Evaporation, solar energy, photosynthesis, chemical potential energy, heat energy, kinetic energy, condensation, water vapour, electrical energy, gravitational potential energy.

Solution

Continue with energy transformations (gravitational into kinetic)

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