Final answer:
The correct option is 3.
The rate of deposition in a stream is not affected by the stream's elevation above sea level, but by factors such as the size and shape of the particles, the stream's velocity, and the particles' density.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factor that does NOT affect the rate of deposition in a stream is the stream's elevation above sea level. Factors that do affect the deposition rate include the size and shape of the particles, the velocity of the stream, and the density of the particles. Elevation above sea level does not directly influence the deposition since the factors that directly affect it are related to the physical properties of the sediment and the water's movement.
For example, larger and heavier particles will settle more quickly than smaller and lighter ones when the velocity of water decreases. Likewise, water flow velocity is important because slower-moving water has less energy, allowing particles to settle. Sediment deposition is also affected by the density of the particles; denser materials are more likely to settle faster than less dense materials. Elevation is not a direct factor in these processes.
The complete question is given below:
Which of the following does NOT affect the rate of deposition in a stream?
(1) size and shape of the particles
(2) velocity of the stream
(3) stream's elevation above sea level
(4) density of the particles