Topic area 2: River definitions: processes

Question 1

What is the upper course

Answer 1

The start of a river close to the source

Question 2

What shape and texture are the rocks in the upper course

Answer 2

large and sharp

Question 3

What is the middle course

Answer 3

This mixes features of the upper and lower course

Question 4

What is the lower course

Answer 4

This is close to the mouth of the river, this is where the river is flattest and moves quickly carrying small pieces

Question 5

What is the source

Answer 5

This is where the river begins

Question 6

What is the mouth

Answer 6

Where the river meets the sea

Question 7

What is a tributary

Answer 7

a small stream joining a big river

Question 8

What are meanders

Answer 8

Bends in a river

Question 9

What is a bedload

Answer 9

The material carried by the river

Question 10

What is an oxbow lake

Answer 10

A small C shaped lake

Question 11

What is a V shape valley

Answer 11

steep sides on the valley

Question 12

What is a leeves

Answer 12

Small wall like feature that run along the river banks

Question 13

What is a floodplain

Answer 13

A flat valley in the lower course of the river

Question 14

Name the 3 River/sea processes

Answer 14

1. Erosion
2. Transportation
3. Deposition

Question 15

What is erosion

Answer 15

The water picking up and breaking down material from the river bed

Question 16

What is transportation

Answer 16

The water carrying material it has picked up

Question 17

what is deposition

Answer 17

The water dropping material it cannot carry

Question 18

Name the 4 erosion processes

Answer 18

1. Hydraulic action
2. abrasion
3. attrition
4. solution

Question 19

What is hydraulic action

Answer 19

The force of the water smashes piece off the the river/cliff

Question 20

What is abrasion

Answer 20

Rock is carried by the water and thrown at the river/ cliff sides

Question 21

what is abrasion

Answer 21

Rock is carried by the water and thrown at the river/cliff sides

Question 22

What is attrition

Answer 22

Rocks are carried by the water and smash into each other making them smaller

Question 23

What is solution

Answer 23

Tiny pieces of sand/rock dissolved by the water and carried away

Question 24

Name the 4 transportation processes

Answer 24

1. Traction
2. Saltation
3. Suspension
4. Solution

Question 25

What is traction

Answer 25

Large pieces of rock are rolled along the river bed

Question 26

What is saltation

Answer 26

Smaller pieces of rock bounce along the floor

Question 27

What is suspension

Answer 27

Small pieces are held by the water “floating” beneath the surface