WATERWHEEL

PENSTOCKS
C O N W AY 6 . 2 1 E N G M & M

QUESTION
Which penstock angle produces the most
energy in a waterwheel?

ABSTRACT
Which penstock angle produces the most energy in a waterwheel?
Harrison Turner
Milwee Middle School
Longwood Florida USA

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of penstock angle on the amount of energy produced by a waterwheel.
If I test multiple angles of a penstock supplying water to a water wheel I believe the steeper angles will produce the most energy
because the water will hit the wheel with more force causing it to spin faster.
First I set up a water wheel. This will remain constant throughout the experiment. I made a penstock out of PVC pipe which can be
rotated to deliver water to the water wheel at different angles. Then I used a multimeter to test the DC voltage output at specific
intervals. I then repeated the entire experiment 5 times for each penstock angle.
On average, a pipe at 15 produces 36.22 volts, a pipe at 30 produces 44.57 volts, a pipe at 45 produces 35.49 volts, and a pipe at
60 or 75 produces 0 volts. After reviewing the data, my hypothesis was not supported because a 30 angle yielded the greatest
amount of energy, not a 75 angle. The results from this experiment could be used to create a water turbine that produces the optimal
amount of energy. If I were to do this experiment again, I would use a sturdier bucket and cork. I would also adjust the experiment to
allow the 60 and 70 trials to produce energy.

HYPOTHESIS
If I increase the angle of a penstock
connected to a water wheel, then the
energy production will be greater because
there will be more force hitting the water
wheel.

WATERWHEEL PROCEDURE
1. Roll Model Magic into a medium sized ball
2. Flatten Model Magic into a disk that is approximately 7.62 cm diameter by 1.27 cm wide
3. Use wooden dowel to make hole in center of

disk.

4. Plug in wood burner and wait 5 minutes for

optimum temperature.

5. Use wood burner to make 12 small holes in

bottom of water tub for drainage

6. Use wood burner to make a 1.12cm hole in

center of both plastic plates.

7. Liberally apply epoxy around hole on the

bottom of plastic plate.

8. Line up holes and place Model Magic Disk on plate.

9. Apply epoxy in a line from model Magic to edge of plate in 8 equally divided segments
10. Break off 2.5cm from non-spoon end of all 8 spoons
11. Place non-bowl end of spoon into Model

Magic keeping spoon lengthwise perpendicular

12. Repeat for each of the 8 intervals

13. Liberally apply epoxy along the top length of the plastic spoons
14. Place bottom of the second plate on top of

the spoons carefully lining up center hole.

15. Glue cork on one end of dowel.

16. Let dry overnight.
17. Slide Center hole over dowel 30 cm from NON cork end.
18. Apply epoxy liberally around center hole.
19. Let it dry overnight.

to plate.

EXPERIMENT PROCEDURE
1. Place supplies on a level surface.
2. Place wooden dowel through the handles of the water tub so the water wheel is in
3. Attach generator to metal frame outside of the
4. Attach generator to the cork on the end
cork.
5. Attach wired leads to generator with

the

center of the tub.

plastic tub.

of the wooden dowel by pushing generator pin into center of

alligator clips.

6. Use duct tape to hold end of PVC pipe steady on the edge of the tub pointing the pipe toward
wheel.
7. Put other end of the PVC pipe on a steady chair with a distance creating a penstock angle
use
protractor to determine angle.
8. Put the end of the garden hose 10.16 cm into
9. Turn on water and release water into

the water

of 15 degrees

the end of the PVC pipe.

penstock.

10. Use multi meter to measure energy every 30 seconds for a time of 3 minutes.
11. Write down results in table.
12. Do not turn off water to maintain constant flow but return to step number 6 and move chair closer to tub
increasing
penstock angle in 13 degree increments up to
a maximum of 90 degrees.
13. Find the average voltage output for each angle.
14. Compare averages to indicate which angle

produces the most energy.

MATERIALS

Pre Bought Metal frame to hold generator

Digital multi meter
DC (direct current) electric motors/generators
Wood dowel (1.12 cm x 91.44 cm)
2 clear plastic plates 25.4 cm diameter
8 Clear plastic spoons
1 cork ( 2.54 cm diameter)
Model Magic

Loctite Extreme Condition Stick n Seal Epoxy

Wood Burner
1 water container (used 30 liter plastic beverage tub
Water wheel
Protractor
PVC pipe (3.175cm wide, 1.67 yards long)
Duct Tape (15.24 cm long)
Garden Hose
Steady Chair

VARIABLES
Independent
Angle of the penstock

Dependent
Amount of energy produced

Control
Location of the penstock
Rate of water flow

EXPERIMENTATION

RESULTS AND DATA

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5

Total Average

15

36.23

36.60

36.57

36.75

34.95

36.22

30

44.65

45.08

45.07

44.82

43.23

44.57

45

33.82

39.72

35.02

34.97

33.92

35.49

60

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

75

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

GRAPH
Average Energy Production

50.00
45.00
40.00
35.00
30.00
25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Trial 4

15

30

Trial 5

45

60

75

CONCLUSION
After reviewing the data, my hypothesis was not supported
because a 30 angle yielded the greatest amount of energy,
not a 75 angle.
If I were to do this experiment again, I would use a sturdier
bucket and cork. I would also adjust the experiment to allow
the 60 and 75 trials to produce energy.

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