How do hydro-power dams work? | Live Experiments (Ep 12) | Head Squeeze
447Mechanical engineer Rob Bell gives us an insight into how Hydro-power dams actually work.
What is hydropower? http://www.edfenergy.com/energyfuture/hydromarine
The international journal on Hydro-powered Dams: http://www.hydropower-dams.com/
The most powerful Dam in the world: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2178951/Three-Gorges-Worlds-powerful-dam-opens-China-gushing-water-generates-power-15-nuclear-reactors.html
Famous Dam pictures: http://www.weather.com/travel/worlds-most-amazing-dams-20130110?pageno=3
Dam Facts: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/engineering/dams.html
The Hoover Dam Story: http://www.history.com/topics/hoover-dam
Have a go yourself - IMPORTANT: You will need one sober adult with a sense of scientific wonder to be present....
The items you will need to carry out this experiment from home are; an empty 2ltr plastic bottle, scissors, a Stanley knife food colouring (optional), a jug of water, a basin and some sheets of newspaper.
1. Place some newspaper sheets down on your work surface to soak up any spillage from your dam
2. Now get an adult to cut the top off you bottle with a pair of scissors. If the bottle is left with jagged edges after you've cut the top off, you should put some gaffer tape on the rim of the bottle
3. Get an adult to pierce 3 small holes on your bottle (one at the top, middle and bottom)
4. Cover the 3 holes up with gaffer tape
5. Fill your jug up with water and mix it with food colouring (food colouring is optional but it looks great)
6. Pour your jug of water into your bottle until it reaches the top
7. Put a basin or a small try below the 3 holes to capture the water before you remove your tape.
8. Now quickly remove the tape covering the 3 pierced holes on your bottle
9. You can now sit back and admire your very own homemade dam in action
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