load or stream load.
A stream can bounce large pebbles and boulders, along the stream bed. These rocks are called bed load. A stream can carry sand in suspension. These materials, called suspended load, make the river look muddy. The dissolved load is material carried in a solution, which means that the material is dissolved in the water. Sodium and calcium are some of the materials in the dissolved load.
A noisy little stream is called a babbling brook. As the water flows over the pebbles in the stream it creates the noise.
Pebbles bumping against each other in a stream are called "abrasion." This process occurs as the flowing water causes the pebbles to collide and rub against each other, eventually wearing them down over time.
Particles of sand and pebbles that are less dense than water are carried by a stream through a process called suspension. The flow of the water exerts enough force to keep these lighter particles suspended in the water and move them downstream. The particles are lifted off the streambed and transported until the flow of the water slows down or they encounter an obstacle that causes them to settle.
It is called turbulence.
Sediment that is carried by a stream along the bottom of its channel.
The stream velocity required to carry the smallest boulders is typically around 1 meter per second. This velocity is based on the sediment transport capacity of the stream, which is influenced by factors such as the size and weight of the boulders, as well as the stream's gradient and flow rate.
The largest sediment that can be transported into a stream is typically boulders, which can be moved during high-energy events like flooding or landslides. However, normal stream flow usually transports smaller particles such as gravel, sand, and silt. The ability of a stream to transport sediment depends on factors like water velocity, sediment size, and stream gradient. While boulders can be moved, they generally require significant force to be entrained and carried downstream.
As the cobbles and pebbles are carried downstream by the stream, they constantly collide with each other and with the streambed, causing abrasion. This abrasion gradually wears away the rough edges and corners of the rocks, resulting in their smooth and rounded appearance. The longer the rocks are transported by the stream, the more worn down they become.
The slowest stream velocity necessary for a stream to carry small boulders typically ranges from 1 to 2 meters per second, depending on factors like the size and shape of the boulders, as well as the water's viscosity and density. This velocity allows the water to exert enough force to overcome the boulders' weight and drag. Additionally, streambed composition and gradient can also influence the required velocity.
sediment
The materials carried by a stream are called its "load." This load can consist of sediment, rocks, and organic matter that the stream transports as it flows. The size and composition of the load can vary depending on factors like the stream's velocity and the surrounding environment.