On this day in physics: 10 February 1961- Niagara Falls hydroelectric power plant goes on line. It took the large force of the niagara river and converted it into the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world. [Source]
Word of the Day: Induction- Electrical induction is a phenomenon first popularly discovered by Michael Faraday in the 1820's. What he discovered was that if a loop of wire is rotated between two magnets, that this induces a current in the wire. What this discovery meant was that the two magnets generate a magnetic field. As the loop of wire rotates, the amount of "magnetic field" which passes through the loop of wire changes. This is known as "Magnetic Flux". And, where there is magnetic flux, there is an induced current. So this current is generated, and can be stored. What happens on a very large scale at hydroelectric power plants like the one at Niagara Falls, is that using the immense force of flowing water, the water turns a turbine, which has attached to it something like a big loop of wire, which spins inside of a magnetic field, and induces a great deal of current, like enough to power a city or two or three. This is a passive, sustainable way to generate power on our planet. A great article on how hydropower works.
Quote of the Day: "Those who can, build. Those who can't, criticize." - Robert Moses
Keywords: Induction, Magnetic, Hydroelectric, Faraday
