Chapter 9 - Section 3 Flashcards
Energy
The ability to do work or cause change
Potential energy
The energy that is stored and waiting to be used later
Kinetic energy
The energy an object has due to its motion
Abrasion
The wearing away of rock by a grinding action
Load
The amount of sediment that a river carries
Friction
The force that opposes the motion of one surface as it moves across another surface
Turbulence
When water moves every which way instead of just moving downstream
How is a river’s potential energy changed into kinetic energy?
As gravity pulls water down a slope, the water’s potential energy changes to kinetic energy that can do work
What are two effects produced by flowing water in a river
Erosion and deposition
What are two main sources of the sediment that rivers and streams carry
Mass movement and runoff
Describe how a stream can erode its streambed
Boulders and other obstacles in the streambed prevent the water from flowing smoothly. Roughness and friction causes turbulence. Aa turbulent stream may cause streambed erosion
What three factors affect how fast a river flows
Slope
volume of flow and
streambed shape
