River profile and upper course features

Question 1

Name the three different courses in a river

Answer 1

Upper course, middle course and lower course

Question 2

Describe the upper course

Answer 2

Shallow and narrow

Question 3

Describe the upper courses’ shape

Answer 3

V-shaped, steep gradient

Question 4

Describe the middle course

Answer 4

Wider, deeper channel

Question 5

Describe the middle courses’ shape

Answer 5

U-shaped, gentle sloping

Question 6

Describe the lower course

Answer 6

Very wide and deep channel

Question 7

Describe the shape of the lower course

Answer 7

Wide U-shaped, almost flat

Question 8

What is a long profile of a river?

Answer 8

Shows how a river changes from source to mouth

Question 9

What is a cross profile of a river?

Answer 9

Shows what the cross section of a river looks like

Question 10

Name the steps to create the upper course of a river

Answer 10

1. Soft rock worn away
2. Hard rock undercut and unsupported
3. Hard rock collapses
4. Waterfall retreats upstream
5. Steep sided gorge left behind

Question 11

Name the three main steps to creating a meander

Answer 11

1. Meanders constantly change shape.Erode in lateral direction
2. Depostition occurs on the inside of slow bend, leading to slip-off
3. Erosion on the outside of fast part of bend, creating river cliff

Question 12

Name the 4 different types of erosion

Answer 12

• hydraulic action
• solution
• abrasion
• attrition

Question 13

What is hydraulic action?

Answer 13

The force of the water causing the banks and bed of the river to erode

Question 14

What is solution?

Answer 14

The acids in the water causing erosion

Question 15

What is abrasion?

Answer 15

The materials carried by the river scrape along the river bed/banks

Question 16

What is attrition?

Answer 16

The river’s load hitting each other, breaking down into smaller pieces

Question 17

Name the 4 different types of transportation

Answer 17

• suspension
• traction
• saltation
• solution

Question 18

What is solution in transportation?

Answer 18

Minerals are dissolved in the water

Question 19

Describe what traction is

Answer 19

Large boulders and rocks rolled along the river bed

Question 20

Describe what suspension is

Answer 20

Fine, light material carried along by the river

Question 21

What is saltation?

Answer 21

Small pebbles and stones bounced along the river bed

Question 22

What is an oxbow lake?

Answer 22

An isolated horseshoe-shaped bend that forms when two outside bend of a meander meet.Over time will dry out and fill with vegetation.