How do rivers shape the land?

Year 10

Upper course
Delta
Meander
Oxbow lake
Floodplains
Source
Lower course
Waterfalls
Middle course

Rivers

The upper course

The river channel is narrow and shallow as the

water is pulled down under the force of gravity
The speed of the river may be fast at
waterfalls but quite slow for the rest of the
upper course due to the friction holding it back
Water usually quite clear
as does not carry much
material/ load

How do rivers shape the land?

In the upper course the
land is very high up, so
under the force of
gravity the water is
pulled downwards
towards the sea.
Therefore, the force of the
water being pulled
downwards vertical
erosion in the upper
course

 This eventually leads

to V- shaped valleys:
1. The river erodes
downwards
2. The sides are
attacked by
weathering
3. The material
becomes loose and
slips downwards V
- shape valleys
4. The river winds its
way round
interlocking spurs of
hard rock

Task 1

Draw the diagram and table into your books with the
labels on and copy the table underneath

Put the sentences into the correct order and fill in the
table. Colour the diagram into make it clearer

Extension: Answer the following questions in as much detail

as you can:
Why is the river slower moving in the upper course of
the river?
Why does the river vertically erode?
Why is the water much clearer in the upper course of
the river?

Task 2
Trace the diagram and label:

V- shaped valley
Interlocking spurs
the river channel
The speed the river moves
Narrow winding river
Verticle erosion

Give your diagram a title

Put these in order for the

formation of a V-shaped valley:
A. The weathered material becomes loose and
slips downwards due to gravity
B. The river erodes downwards
C. The vertical erosion leaves a V-shaped valley
and interlocking spurs
D. As the river cuts downwards, the steep sides
are attacked by weathering.