Hydro Energy? How does a water wheel work?
http://www.waterwheelfactory.com/history...

however, most hydroelectric turbines are of this type.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectr...
http://users.owt.com/chubbard/gcdam/html...


these links seem pretty nice.
http://www.green-trust.org/hydro.htm
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/hyhowworks.... 13% 1 Vote

In general what we call a water wheel is a low power device, designed to use rather limited sources of falling water power, where falling water power is expressed as tons of water falling times the distance the water falls, at a maximum. Water wheels however do not typically make use of the high drop that would give them a lot of power. They use water falling only the height of the wheel, or less. A few undershot wheels have been used in falls much higher than the wheel height. They typically turn much faster, using the kinetic energy of water that has dropped most of the height of the dam or flume height before contacting the fast turning wheel.

Overshot wheels were typically used where there was a risk of ice or other debris floating over the dam... it might jam in an undershot wheel but go right over the overshot wheel.

Today the water wheel is mostly replaced by the vertical axis turbine. 0% 0 Votes

A water wheel is an old ineffective use of water power. A water wheel uses the weight of the water to cause it to turn. The opposite side is upside down hence is empty and weighs less. This rotation can be used to connect to a generator. Turbines are much more efficient. 13% 1 Vote