gcsescience.com                                                    33                                                    gcsescience.com

Power Stations

Tidal Power.

The place where a river flows into the sea is called an estuary.
A dam (called a barrage) is built across the estuary.
The barrage has turbines in it.

When the tide comes in,
water flows through the turbines generating electricity.
The water can be stored behind the barrage
and then released out through the turbines as the tide goes out,
again generating electricity.

The original source of the energy
 is the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun
as they pull the sea backwards and forwards, creating tides.


Advantages of tidal power.

1.  It is renewable.

2. It is reliable.
The tide goes in and out twice a day.

3.  It does not cause pollution.


Disadvantages.

1.  It may not look as nice as the unspoiled river.

2. Boats may not be able to get past the barrage.

back   Headings   Electromagnetism   Induced Current   Search   Questions   next

gcsescience.com              Contents             Index              Quizzes             gcsescience.com

Copyright © 2008 Dr. Colin France. All Rights Reserved.