Generate Your Own Hydropower

Topic: Conversion of Water Power to Electricity

Source: The Alliance to Save Energy, Tennessee Valley Authority, Energy Sourcebook

Web address: http://www.ase.org/uploaded_files/educatorlessonplans/hydropower.pdf

Grade Level: HS

Learning Strategies: Hands-on, building, data collection and anaylsis

Frameworks Connections:

Science and Technology/Engineering

• Technology/Engineering, Grade 9 or 10

  2. Construction Technologies

• Physics, Grade 9 or 10

  2. Conservation of Energy and Momentum
  5. Electromagnetism

• Earth and Space Science, Grade 9 or 10

  1. Matter and Energy in the Earth System
  2. Earth’s Sources of Energy
  3. Earth Processes and Cycles

Cost: Free

Description: In this activity, students will determine the amount of electricity generated by water and understand how waterpower is converted into electricity. To do this, they will build a waterwheel, a galvanometer, and a hydropower generator. The models the students will make is much like the actual waterwheel used in hydropower plants. Step-by-step instructions for students, the teacher guide, and diagrams are provided to assist throughout the process. 

In addition to completing the assigned models and follow-up discussion questions, students can further their understanding of how water power works by altering certain variables in their current design as well as develop other designs.