Hydrostatic head

When generating hydropower, the "head" is a general term used to describe the distance that a given water source has to fall before the point where power is generated. Ultimately the force responsible for hydropower is gravity, so a hydroelectricity plant with a tall/high head can produce more energy than a similar plant with a short/low head. The difference is immediately apparent if you compare the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona with the Aswan Dam in Egypt. In short, a larger head allows water to fall a greater distance, which in turn allows more kinetic energy to accumulate. That energy is then harnessed by a water wheel or water turbine to create usable hydropower. !meh!

ee also

*Hydraulic head for a more technical description of the physical principle of hydraulics

References

* [http://www.usbr.gov/library/glossary/#H U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Glossary] (See “Head”)
* [http://www.mms.gov/glossary/h.htm U.S. Minerals Management Service: Glossary] (See “Hydraulic head”]
* [http://www.spwla.org/library_info/glossary/reference/glossh/glossh.htm Society of Petrophysicists & Well Log Analysts: Glossary] (See “Hydraulic head”)
* [http://www.keidel.com/mech/pressure-head.htm Keidel.com: “Pressure vs. Head”] lemons