Topic 1 -UK's Physical Landscape: EQ4 (River processes)

Question 1

the path of a river as it flows downhill is called its..

Answer 1

…course

Question 2

Where is the upper course in relation to a river?

Answer 2

closest to the source of the river

Question 3

Where is the lower course in relation to a river?

Answer 3

closest to the mouth of a river

Question 4

What is lateral erosion?

Answer 4

Erosion to the sides, it widens the river valley and channel

Question 5

What is vertical erosion?

Answer 5

Erosion downwards, it deepens the river valley and channel

Question 6

Where is vertical erosion dominant?

Answer 6

in the upper course of a river

Question 7

Where is lateral erosion dominant?

Answer 7

in the middle and lower courses of a river

Question 8

How does freeze-thaw weathering work?

Answer 8

Water gets into rock that has cracks/pores. When the water freezes it expands which puts pressure on the rock, when it thaws it contracts, releasing the pressure. Repeated freezing and thawing eventually breaks apart the rock

Question 9

What are the 4 processes of erosion?

Answer 9

• hydraulic action
• abrasion
• attrition
• solution

Question 10

What is hydraulic action?

Answer 10

the force of the water breaks rock particles away from the river channel

Question 11

What is abrasion?

Answer 11

eroded rocks picked up by the river scrape and rub agaomst the channel, wearing it away

Question 12

What is attrition?

Answer 12

eroded rocks picked up by the river smash into each other, breaking into smaller rocks. Their edges also get rounded off as they rub together

Question 13

What is solution (erosion)?

Answer 13

when river water dissolves soluble materials

Question 14

What is transportation?

Answer 14

the movement of eroded material

Question 15

What is traction?

Answer 15

large particles like boudlers are pushed along the river bed by the force of water

Question 16

What is saltation?

Answer 16

pebble-sized particles are bounced along the river bed by the force of the water

Question 17

What is suspension?

Answer 17

small particles are carried along by the water

Question 18

What is solution (transport)?

Answer 18

soluble materials dissolve in the water and are carried along

Question 19

Order the 4 processes of transport from biggest to smallest

Answer 19

1. traction
2. saltation
3. suspension
4. solution

Question 20

What are the 4 processes of transport?

Answer 20

• traction
• saltation
• suspension
• solution

Question 21

What is deposition?

Answer 21

When a river drops the material it’s transporting

Question 22

Give some reasons why rivers slow down and deposit material?

Answer 22

• the volume of water in the river falls
• the amount of material in the water increases
• the water is shallower
• the river reaches its mouth