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.