Introduction 4 Chapter One Types of Waterpower 9 Chapter twO Water Turbines 19 Chapter three Hydroelectricity History 28 Chapter FOur Upsides and Downsides 35 Glossary 42 For More Information 44 Index 47 CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION The roar of a waterfall suggests suggests the power of water Rampaging floodwaters can uproot strong trees and twist railroad railroad tracks When the power of water is harnessed however it can do useful work for humans Since ancient times people have put the energy in the flow of water to work They first made water work for them with the waterwheel a wheel with paddles around its rim Flowing water rotated the waterwheel waterwheel which in turn ran machinery that was linked to it Today new kinds of waterwheels known as turbines spin generators that produce electricity Electricity from water-turned generators is known as hydroelectricity By building a dam across a river the natural upstream water level is elevated and a difference 4
These turbines produce electricity at the Grand Coulee Powerplant in Grand Coulee Washington 5
