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Why does the water in waterfalls flow downward?
In waterfalls, water flows downward because of gravity.
A force called gravity pulls everything on Earth downward. Water is light and flows easily, so it follows this force right away and always moves downward. When a river is flowing along a flat path and suddenly meets a steep cliff, the water can't just stop and float in the air; it pours down off the cliff. We call this pouring down a waterfall.
Waterfalls usually form when soft rock under the river wears away over time, while the harder rock above stays in place. This creates a sudden step in the river's path. As the water falls down this step, its sound and its foam make a beautiful sight.
Quick facts
- Gravity pulls water, and everything else, downward.
- Waterfalls form when a river pours down off a steep cliff.
- Soft rocks wear away over time, while hard rocks stay in place.
- Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world.
- The sound and foam the water makes as it falls make a waterfall beautiful.
Check what you remember
3 questions — all of them come from the quick facts above. There is no score and no wrong turn.
1. Why does water always flow downward?
2. How do waterfalls form?
3. Which rocks wear away faster?
Where this comes from
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1 tr.wikipedia.org 85/100Waterfall - Wikipedia
An encyclopedia page that explains simply how waterfalls form.
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2 tr.wikipedia.org 80/100Gravity - Wikipedia
Explains what gravity is and why it pulls everything downward.
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3 nasa.gov 60/100NASA
An official space agency website with reliable information about gravity and natural events.
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