Hydrostatic head
Encyclopedia
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
, the head is a general term used to describe the distance that a given water source has to fall before the point where power is generated. Ultimately the force responsible for hydropower is gravity, so a hydroelectricity plant with a tall/high head can produce more energy than a similar plant with a short/low head. In short, a larger head allows water to fall a greater distance, which in turn allows more kinetic energy
Kinetic energy
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy which it possesses due to its motion.It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes...
to accumulate. That energy is then harnessed by a water wheel or water turbine to create usable hydropower.
See also
- Hydraulic headHydraulic headHydraulic head or piezometric head is a specific measurement of water pressure above a geodetic datum. It is usually measured as a water surface elevation, expressed in units of length, at the entrance of a piezometer...
for a more technical description of the physical principle of hydraulics - Tents, as Hydrostatic head is used as a measurement of the waterproofness of a tent