GCSE Rivers Questions

Explain the differences in the size and shape of the material on the river bed in the upper and lower courses of a river.

• In the upper course load is smaller and more rounded than in the lower course because of erosional processes such as attrition and corrasion.
• As a river moves through its course, because of the greater incidence of larger settlements, more supermarket shopping trolleys are likely to be found in rivers, adding to the load that has already been deposited. 
• •In the lower course load is smaller and more rounded than in the upper course because of erosional processes such as attrition and corrasion.

A river may erode by the processes of corrosion, attrition, corrasion or hydraulic power. For hydraulic power describe how it works

• •This is when river water and its load are thrown against the river banks causing erosion.
• •Water and air are forced into cracks on the river bank, exerting a pressure. When this process is repeated many times it causes erosion.
• A river carries large amounts of load that are constantly smashing into each other and breaking into smaller particles. This makes the load smaller and more rounded over time.

Traction, saltation, suspension and solution are the 4 methods of transport of material along a river. For saltation explain how each it works 

• Small pebbles bounce along the river bed.
• Large boulders roll along the river bed.
• Fine material is carried along, suspended in the water.

Give reasons for the differences in cross sections of rivers in the upper and lower courses

• In the upper course rivers are narrow and swallow because the river is less powerful and discharge relatively low. In the lower course the river is wider and deeper as the river carries more load, discharges more and has more power to erode.
• In the upper course rivers are wide and deep because the river is less powerful and discharge relatively low. In the lower course the river is narrow and shallow as the river carries more load, discharges more and has less power to erode.
• •As a river moves from its upper to its lower course, it tends to carry more load, is wider, deeper, faster flowing and discharge increases.

Explain the formation of a waterfall and gorge

• •Niagara Falls is one of the best known waterfalls in the world. There are actually two waterfalls together which have been formed as a gorge has worn down the Niagara river. Angel falls, in Venezuela is the biggest waterfall in the world.
• •Sometimes water takes a short cut to the sea by going over a waterfall. A good example of a gorge is Ironbridge gorge, Shropshire. It has a fantastic iron bridge over the river Severn.
• •If a river flows over hard rock which lies on top of exposed softer rock, the softer rock may be undercut by erosion, forming a waterfall. If the waterfall retreats upstream it can form a steep sided valley called a gorge.

What features are associated with waterfalls?

• Niagara, Victoria, Angel, High Force.
• Plunge pool, undercutting, hard and soft rock.
• Weathering, erosion, transportation and deposition.

What river features and landforms are associated with  a cross section or profile of a river valley in its upper course?

• •river source, V-shape, interlocking spurs, narrow and shallow river channel.
• delta, flood plain, river mouth, levees, wide and deep river channel.
• •sheep farming, wind turbines, HEP (hydro-electric power) stations and dams and reservoirs.

Which of the following features are not formed by river deposition?

• Levee  
• Gorge
• Delta

What are meanders?

• They are bends in a river formed by a river as the volume of water increases in its lower course. The shaping of a meander bend is helped by erosion on the outside of the bend and deposition on the inside of the bend.
• Meanders migrate across their flood plain, widening the river valley and helping to form a flood plain.
• They are bends in a river.

Explain how the features of a meander are formed?

• •a river cliff forms on the inside of a river bend as a result of faster flowing water and its load causing erosion and undercutting the river bank. A slip off slope forms on the outside of a river bend where the river is flowing more slowly and deposition takes place.
• a river cliff forms on the outside of a river bend as a result of faster flowing water and its load causing erosion and undercutting the river bank. A slip off slope forms on the inside of a river bend where the river is flowing more slowly and deposition takes place.
• •a river cliff forms on the outside of a river bend as a result of faster flowing water and its load causing deposition on the bank. A slip off slope forms on the inside of a river bend where the river is flowing more slowly and erosion takes place.