Question

Students in science class are studying the effects of erosion. One group wanted to study the effects of stream flow on the erosion of the stream bank. They picked a section of stream that had a pronounced meandering path. As winter progressed, the students expected the melting snow and ice to increase stream volume and flow. In addition, when the spring rains came, stream flow would also increase for a time. The experiment would run from January through April.What are important components of this investigation? Pick out all the statements that are true.An appropriate hypothesis might be: As stream flow increased, erosion at Site 1 will increase.An appropriate hypothesis might be: How do you expect erosion and deposition to change over time?Students should calculate the before/after straightness of the stream by dividing the length of the channel in a section of a river with the straight-line distance of the same section of the river.At Sites 1, 2 and 3, students collect data, measuring the stream depth to construct the cross-profile of the stream.Students should identify the kind of sediment found on the stream bottom at each labelled site.Students take before and after photos of research location.

Answer 1

Students are studying erosion due to increased stream flow by formulating hypotheses, collecting data on stream depth, sediment type, and taking photos. They are also analyzing the stream's meandering by calculating the sinuosity index.

Step-by-step explanation:

The students conducting a study on the effects of stream flow on the erosion of a stream bank are incorporating various important components into their investigation. These components include formulating a hypothesis, collecting data, measuring different variables, and documenting changes over the course of the study.

An appropriate hypothesis could be that 'As stream flow increases, erosion at Site 1 will increase.' This hypothesis is specific and testable. Asking how erosion and deposition change over time is more of a research question than a hypothesis because it does not make a predictive statement.

Measuring the stream depth and constructing the cross-profile of the stream are critical components of the study as they help to understand and illustrate the physical changes happening within the stream.

Identifying the kind of sediment found on the stream bottom is also significant, as it can indicate the types of erosion and deposition occurring. Taking before and after photos of the research location provides visual evidence of the physical changes and supports the quantifiable data.

Regarding the straightness of the stream, calculating the sinuosity index, which is determined by dividing the length of the channel by the straight-line distance, can help in understanding how meandering the stream is and if it changes over time due to erosion.