A model of hydroelectric power plant as a tool in the teaching of Physics

Abstract

In the current context of sustainability and conscientious use of electric energy, concerns about electrical black-outs and environmental protests against the building of power plants whose environmental impacts are imminent, discussions about clean and sustainable energy become common in regular schools. In addition, the knowledge on the energy matrix in Brazil was intensified especially in basic education schools, without, however, to propose a discussion of important physical concepts for energy conservation that took place in these types of plants. Many printed materials such as textbooks and handouts, bring more consistent discussions on the concepts of electromagnetism, putting aside others as hydrodynamic and mechanical power. This paper aims to present a proposal to build a interactive hydroelectric plant model with recycled and low cost materials, which can be used to work several concepts of rotational mechanics, fluid mechanics and electromagnetism in a class of elementary and high school, in qualitative form, evidencing the physical concepts, their fundaments and interpretations.