How many degrees will the water at the base of a 100-meter-high dam be heated?

Given:

h = 100 meters – the height of the dam;

g = 10 N / kg – acceleration due to gravity (rounded value);

c = 4200 J / (kg * C) – specific heat of water.

It is required to determine dt (degrees Celsius) – how many degrees the water at the base of the dam will be heated.

Since the condition of the problem is not specified, we believe that all the potential energy of the water will go to its heating.

Then, let m be the mass of water. According to the law of conservation of energy, we have:

Epotential = Q;

m * g * h = m * c * dt;

g * h = c * dt;

dt = g * h / c = 10 * 100/4200 = 1000/4200 = 10/42 = 0.2 ° degrees Celsius.

Answer: The water will heat up 0.2 ° Celsius.