In this project, students write a paper that details a way in which hydro-power was used in the era before electricity. Some examples would be sawmills, gristmills or textile mills. Students should include information on the kinds of water wheels used for different purposes, as well as their shapes, sizes and the materials they were made of. Students will also write a section on the mechanisms that were used to convert the kinetic energy of the moving wheel into mechanical energy for manufacturing. Students will also provide visual examples of their type of hydro-power uses and their mechanisms.
Dams are the primary source of hydroelectric energy in the world. For this project, students will research a particular dam, whether or historical or currently in use. The poster should include an illustration of the damn and detail the history of its construction. It should also include general information about the dam, such as its size, the amount of water that flows through it, the river it was built on and how much energy it creates. You can determine the level of detail you want for the information depending on student grade and comprehension levels.
In this project, students will address a hypothetical proposal to build a hydroelectric plant at a local water source, but thee city councils must approve it first. Students will make presentations arguing for or against building the new plant. Presentations should include both words and visuals, with research to support any points made. Points to consider would be: the cost of building the plant, the efficacy of hydroelectric power compared to other energy sources or the potential environmental effects on the local water source.
Students will construct a water wheel, one small enough that they can operate it with the water provided by a sink or hose. The wheel should provide power to a mechanism that does a task. You can determine the level of complexity for the task depending on the grade and comprehension level of your class. Students will also explain the physical principals behind the water wheel, whether orally or in a short paper. The materials for this project should come from home.