Editing 2710: Hydropower Breakthrough
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In fluid dynamics, the letter Q represents the {{w|volumetric flow rate}}, or volume of fluid per unit time, e.g. m³/s. Depending on the units chosen, it would not be at all surprising for this number to be greater than 1 for a hydroelectric dam. | In fluid dynamics, the letter Q represents the {{w|volumetric flow rate}}, or volume of fluid per unit time, e.g. m³/s. Depending on the units chosen, it would not be at all surprising for this number to be greater than 1 for a hydroelectric dam. | ||
| − | However, Beret Guy's clarification, that the meaning of this is that the dam is producing more water than was fed into it, suggests that he is interpreting the letter Q in a manner similar to its use in {{w|fusion power}}, where it represents the ratio of output power to input power. Typically fusion reactors require more power than they generate, but on the day after this comic was released, the US National Ignition Facility [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/12/11/fusion-nuclear-energy-breakthrough/ announced] the first Q > 1 fusion reaction. However, hydroelectric dams work quite differently from fusion reactors | + | However, Beret Guy's clarification, that the meaning of this is that the dam is producing more water than was fed into it, suggests that he is interpreting the letter Q in a manner similar to its use in {{w|fusion power}}, where it represents the ratio of output power to input power. Typically fusion reactors require more power than they generate, but on the day after this comic was released, the US National Ignition Facility [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/12/11/fusion-nuclear-energy-breakthrough/ announced] the first Q > 1 fusion reaction. However, hydroelectric dams work quite differently from fusion reactors {{citation needed}}, and (despite frequent comparisons) water is different from electricity {{citation needed}}. |
If a dam were indeed producing more water than came into it from the reservoir and other sources, especially on a consistent basis (and not just because of water that had been stored somehow inside the dam) it would be a violation of the law of conservation of mass. It appears that one of the audience members is oblivious to this fact, joining in Beret Guy's celebration, while another audience member is more effectively applying their critical thinking skills. | If a dam were indeed producing more water than came into it from the reservoir and other sources, especially on a consistent basis (and not just because of water that had been stored somehow inside the dam) it would be a violation of the law of conservation of mass. It appears that one of the audience members is oblivious to this fact, joining in Beret Guy's celebration, while another audience member is more effectively applying their critical thinking skills. | ||
