River Landforms

Question 1

upper course

Answer 1

v shaped valley

waterfalls

Question 2

middle course

Answer 2

meanders

oxbow lakes

Question 3

lower course

Answer 3

floodplains

deltas

Question 4

how is a v shaped valley formed

Answer 4

River erodes downwards as boulders and stones are bounced along channel bed. abrasion
river cuts down steeps sides are attacked by weathering. breaks and loosens soil and rock
loosened material slowly creeps down the slope because of gravity or is washed into the river and gets carried away
end result is a v shaped valley

Question 5

how are waterfalls formed

Answer 5

the river flow over different types of rocks. the soft rock wears away faster than the hard rock. in time a step develops over which the river plunges as a waterfall. the water cuts away rock behind the waterfall. causing the false to move back and leave a gorge

Question 6

how are meanders formed

Answer 6

the river erodes to right to left and forms a bend. this is due to deposition and erosion. the force of the river erodes and undercuts the river banks on the outside of the bend with the high energy and less friction. the inside bend where there is less energy and more friction materials are deposited.

Question 7

how are oxbow lakes formed

Answer 7

the outer meander continues to erode due to hydraulic action and the neck becomes narrower. because if this the 2 outer bends meet and the river cuts through the neck. the water takes the shortest course. deposition gradually seals the old meander off forming a oxbow lake

Question 8

floodplains

Answer 8

the area around a river that gets flooded. it’s fertile and is good for agriculture. used to grow rice in India

Question 9

deltas

Answer 9

found at the mouth of the river. formed when the river deposits the material faster than the sea can remove it