In modern day society there are many types and sources of pollution which directly affect the environment. One such type of pollution, which is becoming even more predominate through the construction of nuclear power plants, is that of thermal pollution.
Power plants use vast amounts of water which are converted to steam by the thermonuclear reaction.
This steam is used to turn the blades of the turbines which turns the generators producing the electricity. The hot water resulting from condensed steam is partially cooled in specially designed towers before it is released again into the environment by means of a reservoir or stream. The temperature of the return water is great enough to raise the temperature of the body of water several degrees. Such increases in temperature could greatly affect the organisms living in the water. The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate to students the effect increased water temperature has on the amount of dissolved oxygen found in water and in turn upon the gill beat rate of fish.