As far as I understand, turbines that are powered by ocean tides don’t take energy out of the ocean. Since the tides carry on endlessly regardless of if there is a turbine, how is hydroelectric power not an infinite energy source?
In: Physics
Taking energy from the ocean tides will increase the rate that the moon’s revolution slows down. (ie makes the moon move slower in orbit around the earth). The moon is gradually doing so already but this very very long process will be sped up slightly. The energy is not infinite but is so large that in human terms, it might as well be.
Hydroelectric energy (from dams) is energy from the sun that evaporates the water, leads to rain and the rain forms rivers etc. It isn’t infinite either – the sun will eventually burn out.
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