Question

which best describes a difference between energy transformations in power plants and dams?
only power plants use fossil fuels to transform energy.
only dams use fission to generate thermal energy.
only power plants use water to turn turbines.
only dams use mechanical energy to produce electricity.

Explanation:

• Power plants can use fossil fuels (like coal, oil, natural gas) for energy transformation. Dams don't use fossil fuels.
• Dams use the energy of flowing water (mechanical energy from water flow) to turn turbines. Some power plants (hydro - power plants are a type of power plant, but when we consider non - hydro power plants) may not use water in the same way as dams for their main energy - to - electricity conversion.
• Dams do not use fission (nuclear fission is used in nuclear power plants).
• Both dams (using the mechanical energy of water) and some power plants (e.g., steam turbines in thermal power plants which also involve mechanical motion of turbines) can have a stage where mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, but the source of that mechanical energy is different.

Answer:

Only power plants use fossil fuels to transform energy.