Question

This map shows the Colorado River from the Hoover Dam to Lake Powell. Select whether the water of the river has potential energy (P.E.) or kinetic energy (K.E.) at each location listed below.

Answer 1

Colorado river P.E.
Hoover Dam K.E.

Answer 2

Answer:

• Potential energy(P.E) at the Hoover dam: Just because the dams are built on a height equal to hundreds of meters on average.So, we have the following equation for the potential energy(P.E) which is P.E=m.g.h. Now, the dam acts as a reservoir for the water source and is mainly supposed as the stored form of energy to the run the turbines placed in front of the water when the gates are opened.
• Colorado River's water is in motion making the energy possessed by it as kinetic energy(K.E) along with some amount of potential energy (P.E) in it. Just because the river too acts as the reservoir for the water which then moves in to smaller vessels or mainly gets the shape of the lake Powell.
• Lake Powell is more of a water source in motion,which makes it obvious to know that the energy, E possessed by the river will be kinetic energy(K.E), K.E=1/2 m.v².