A stream erodes its concave bank. That is, when the course of a river is curved, it erodes the outer bank. This is because the entire cross-section of the river moves at a roughly constant volume flow rate, but the arc length on the outside of the curve is much longer than the arc length on the inside of the curve. So in order for the water to keep up with the rest of the river once it has left the curved section, called a meander, it must move more quickly along the outside. The faster water causes more erosion. On the convex bank, where the water flow is slowest for the same reason, sediment is deposited instead. Eventually, the combined action of erosion and deposion may cut through the land on either side of the river bend, eking out a new, straighter watercourse and leaving the meander cut off from the river to become a formation called an oxbow lake.
2007-03-20 14:56:34
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answer #1
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answered by DavidK93 7
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water traveling creates friction the bank is resistance to the flow.
2007-03-20 15:01:39
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answer #2
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answered by Todd C 4
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