Question 1

________ is the maximum load of solid particles a stream can transport per unit time.
A)Corrosion
B)Capacity
C)Competence
D)Carbonate

Accepted Answer

The maximum load of solid particles a stream can transport per unit time is called capacity.

Question 2

Which part of a stream's sediment load moves the slowest?
A)Bed load
B)Dissolved load
C)Suspended load

Accepted Answer

Bed load moves the slowest because it consists of particles that roll, slide, and bounce along the bottom of the stream bed, which requires more energy to move compared to the particles in suspension or those dissolved in the water.

Question 3

What is the mouth of a stream?
A)The location where one stream flows into another body of water
B)The location where streamflow begins
C)The location where streamflow evaporates
D)The location where streams diverge into distributary channels

Accepted Answer

The mouth of a stream is the location where it flows into another body of water, such as a river, lake, sea, or ocean.

Question 4

What is infiltration?
A)The transition from liquid to gas as a result of increases in temperature
B)Plants taking in water
C)Water soaking into the ground
D)Water running off the surface and entering a channel

Accepted Answer

Infiltration refers to the process of water soaking into the ground, which can be caused by precipitation or irrigation. Options A, B, and D are not accurate descriptions of infiltration.

Question 5

How will channel velocity change along the longitudinal profile of a stream?
A)Velocity will remain constant for the entire length of the stream
B)Velocity will start high and gradually decrease toward the mouth due to increasing discharge downstream
C)Velocity will start low and gradually increase toward the mouth due to increasing discharge downstream

Accepted Answer

Velocity will start low and gradually increase toward the mouth due to increasing discharge downstream. As water flows downstream, it accumulates more water from tributaries, causing the discharge (volume of water passing a point in a given time) to increase. As the discharge increases, the channel width and depth also increase, which eventually leads to an increase in velocity.

Question 6

________ is the area at the headwaters of a stream where most of the sediment is derived.
A)Sediment Production
B)Sediment Transport
C)Sediment Deposition
D)Sediment Load

Accepted Answer

Sediment Production refers to the process of creating sediment, and the headwaters of a stream is where most of the sediment is generated or produced, through weathering and erosion of surrounding land.

Question 7

Which of the following beds would be easiest for a stream to erode?
A)Lined with gravel and cobbles
B)Bedrock
C)Lined with sand and gravel
D)Lined with silt

Accepted Answer

Beds lined with silt are the easiest for a stream to erode because silt particles are smaller and less cohesive than gravel, cobbles, or bedrock, making them more susceptible to being picked up and carried away by moving water.

Question 8

Which of the following is not one of the three zones of a river system?
A)Sediment Capacity Zone
B)Sediment Transport Zone
C)Sediment Deposition Zone
D)Sediment Production Zone

Accepted Answer

The three zones of a river system are typically referred to as the Sediment Production Zone, Sediment Transport Zone, and Sediment Deposition Zone. The Sediment Capacity Zone is not commonly recognized as one of these three zones.

Question 9

In terms of competence, if the velocity of the stream triples, the impact force of the water will increase ________ times.
A)two
B)three
C)nine
D)eighteen

Accepted Answer

According to the equation for calculating impact force - F= 1/2 x p x v^2 x A, where p is the density of water, v is the velocity of the water, and A is the cross-sectional area of the stream - the impact force is directly proportional to the square of the velocity. Therefore, if the velocity triples, the impact force will increase 9 (3 squared) times.

Question 10

What will happen to the water level in the stream if the water table is below the level of the stream channel?
A)The stream will lose water to the groundwater system.
B)The stream will gain water from the groundwater system.
C)The level of water in the stream will remain constant.

Accepted Answer

If the water table is below the level of the stream channel, the stream will lose water to the groundwater system, as the water will flow from the stream channel into the surrounding soil and be absorbed by the groundwater system. This can result in a decreased water level in the stream.

Question 11

________ is a measure of a stream's ability to transport particles based on size rather than quantity.
A)Corrosion
B)Capacity
C)Competence
D)Carbonate

Accepted Answer

Competence is the measure of a stream's ability to transport particles based on their size, shape and density rather than the quantity of particles present in the water.

Question 12

What is the longitudinal profile?
A)The cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of flow
B)The cross-sectional area from the headwaters to the mouth
C)The slope of the stream channel from headwaters to the mouth
D)The probability of a specific stream discharge occurring in a given year

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the longitudinal profile?
A)The cross-sectional area...

Question 13

Which of the following particle sizes is most likely to make up a stream's suspended load?
A)Gravel
B)Clay
C)Sand
D)Silt

Accepted Answer

Silt particles are small enough to be easily carried in the water column without quickly settling out, making them a common component of a stream's suspended load. Gravel and sand particles are too heavy to be suspended for long periods of time, and clay particles are so small that they tend to remain in suspension and form a part of the stream's bed load.

Question 14

What is the geologic definition of a stream?
A)A river of water that carries large volumes of water and has many tributaries
B)A stagnant body of water with little current and low oxygen content
C)A large lake system
D)A channelized body of water flowing down gradient

Accepted Answer

A stream is defined as a channelized body of water flowing down gradient, which can refer to both small and large bodies of water with varying flow rates. Options A and C both refer to larger bodies of water and option B refers to a stagnant body, which is not a stream.

Question 15

________ occurs when a rock is gradually dissolved by flowing water.
A)Abrasion
B)Corrosion
C)Quarrying
D)Exfoliation

Accepted Answer

Corrosion occurs when water gradually dissolves a rock due to its chemical composition. This typically occurs with rocks that contain minerals that easily dissolve, such as limestone. Abrasion involves the physical wearing down of a rock through friction, quarrying involves the removal of rock by man-made activities, and exfoliation involves the peeling away of layers of a rock due to pressure changes.

Question 16

Streams generally receive their water from two sources.What are those two sources?
A)Lakes and meteorites
B)Meteorites and comets
C)Overland flow and groundwater
D)Groundwater and evaporation

Accepted Answer

Streams generally receive their water from overland flow, which is when precipitation falls onto the ground and flows into the stream, and from groundwater, which is water that seeps into the ground and into the stream. Lakes, meteorites, comets, and evaporation do not play a significant role in the water supply of streams.

Question 17

The ________ is an elevational point that divides an entire continent into large drainage basins.
A)Appalachian Mountains
B)Continental Divide
C)Watershed
D)Sediment production zone

Accepted Answer

The Continental Divide is a ridge of high ground along the Rocky Mountains and associated ranges which separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Arctic Ocean.

Question 18

The ________ describes the path water takes as it moves between the land, the ocean, and the atmosphere.
A)Hydrologic Cycle
B)Oxygen Cycle
C)Rock Cycle
D)Matter State Cycle

Accepted Answer

The hydrologic cycle, also known as the water cycle, describes the movement of water between the land, ocean, and atmosphere through processes such as evaporation, precipitation, and runoff. The oxygen cycle refers to the movement of oxygen through Earth's atmosphere and ecosystems, the rock cycle describes how rocks are formed, transformed, and broken down over time, and the matter state cycle is not a commonly recognized term in science.

Question 19

What percentage of Earth's water is in the form of seawater?
A)2.15%
B)97.2%
C)0.62%
D)0.03%

Accepted Answer

Approximately 97.2% of Earth's water is in the form of seawater. This means only 2.8% of Earth's water is freshwater, which includes water in rivers, lakes, groundwater, and glaciers.

Question 20

What is the wetted perimeter of a stream?
A)That part of a streambed that contains the strongest current
B)Where the stream is incising on the outside of a meander loop
C)Where deposition occurs in an abandoned stream channel
D)The amount of flow in contact with the banks and bed of the channel

Accepted Answer

The wetted perimeter of a stream is the total length of the channel bottom and sides that are in contact with the water, or the amount of flow in contact with the banks and bed of the channel. It is important for calculating flow velocity and discharge. Option A refers to the thalweg, which is the line of maximum velocity down the center of the stream. Option B refers to eroding banks on the outside of a meander loop, and option C refers to deposition in an abandoned stream channel.

Quiz 16: Running Water

________ is the maximum load of solid particles a stream can transport per unit time.

Which part of a stream's sediment load moves the slowest?

What is the mouth of a stream?

What is infiltration?

How will channel velocity change along the longitudinal profile of a stream?

________ is the area at the headwaters of a stream where most of the sediment is derived.

Which of the following beds would be easiest for a stream to erode?

Which of the following is not one of the three zones of a river system?

In terms of competence, if the velocity of the stream triples, the impact force of the water will increase ________ times.

What will happen to the water level in the stream if the water table is below the level of the stream channel?

________ is a measure of a stream's ability to transport particles based on size rather than quantity.

What is the longitudinal profile?

Which of the following particle sizes is most likely to make up a stream's suspended load?

What is the geologic definition of a stream?

________ occurs when a rock is gradually dissolved by flowing water.

Streams generally receive their water from two sources.What are those two sources?

The ________ is an elevational point that divides an entire continent into large drainage basins.

The ________ describes the path water takes as it moves between the land, the ocean, and the atmosphere.

What percentage of Earth's water is in the form of seawater?

What is the wetted perimeter of a stream?