Moving Water Force

Work and Energy

Energy is the ability to do work or cause change.

Two Types of Energy:Potential Energy = energy that is

stored in an object due to it’s position.○ Ex. Rock sitting on top of a hill.

Kinetic Energy = energy in an object due to it’s motion.○ Ex. Any thing that is in motion has

kinetic energy.

How does this effect water and erosion?

As gravity pulls water down hill, the waters potential energy changes to kinetic energy (kinetic energy can do work, it can cause erosion)The steeper the hill the faster the

water can flow.The faster the water flows the more

sediment it can carry.

How Water Erodes

1. Mass movement• Sediment falls into a river

2. Runoff• Washes sediment into the river

3. Erosion• Sediment erodes from the bottom or

sides of the river

4. Abrasion• Wearing away of rock by a grinding

action

Erosion and Sediment Load The power of a river to cause

erosion and carry sediment depends on:

1. Slope – how steep the river is2. Volume of Flow – how much water

the river carries3. Shape of the Stream Bed – how deep

and wide the river is.

Factors Effecting Erosion and Deposition1. If the river flows

in a straight line.• The water flows

fastest near the center of the river

• Erosion occurs in the center of the river.

• Deposition occurs along the sides of the river.○ Where the water

is moving slower.

1. If the river flows in a curved path.• Water flows fastest

along the outside of the curve.○ Outside of curve

erodes away.• Water flows

slowest along the inside of the curve.○ Inside of curve

sediment is deposited.