What Causes ‘Rivers’ to Flow and How Do They Change Over Time?

Rivers flow because water always moves from high to low. Imagine a stream like a little kid running down a hill, it’s just following gravity! Over time, rivers can change shape by carrying rocks and dirt with them, kind of like how kids pile sand in the sandbox.

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Examples

A stream rushing down a hill is like water running from your hands into the sink.
When you drop sand into a bowl of water, it sinks to the bottom, that’s what rivers do when they slow down.
Rivers can change direction over time, just like how a person might take a different route home on a rainy day.

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Categories: Science · geology,hydrology,earth science