River Processes and Landforms Quiz

Study Notes

River Processes

Rivers erode material through four main processes:
- Traction: Large rocks and boulders are rolled along the riverbed.
- Saltation: Smaller stones are bounced along the riverbed.
- Suspension: Fine material is carried in the flow of water.
- Solution: Minerals dissolve in the water.

River Landforms

V-shaped valleys form in Highland areas with interlocking spurs.
- A river in flood transports eroded material along its bed, cutting downwards and deepening the riverbed.
- After heavy rainfall, soil moves downhill under gravity, making the valley steep-sided and V-shaped.
- Erosion deepens the valley faster than it widens.

Waterfalls

Waterfalls develop as follows:
- Soft rock is worn away.
- Hard rock is undercut and unsupported.
- Hard rock collapses.
- The waterfall retreats upstream.
- A steep-sided gorge is left behind.

River Erosional Processes

Attrition is when material is moved along the riverbed and collides with other pieces, breaking them into smaller pieces.
Corrasion is caused by fine material rubbing against the riverbank, like sandpaper.
- Hydraulic action is the force of water hitting the banks, wearing them away and causing them to collapse.
Corrosion is the form of chemical erosion, where materials in the riverbed are dissolved by acids.
Erosion is the wearing away of land when water flows fastest and carries large amounts of material.

Deposition

Deposition is the laying down or dumping of eroded material.
- It happens when a river loses energy.
- It may occur during a dry spell, or on the inside of a river bend.

Description

Test your knowledge on river processes, erosional mechanisms, and the formation of river landforms such as V-shaped valleys and waterfalls. This quiz covers key concepts related to how rivers shape the landscape through various processes of erosion and sediment transport.