A stream begins at an elevation of 200 meters and flows a distance of 400 kilometers to the ocean.What is the average gradient?
A)2 m/km
B)2 km/m
C)0)5 m/km
D)0)5 km/in

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Average gradient = (change in elevation) / (distance travelled)
Change in elevation = final elevation - initial elevation = 0 - 200 = -200 meters
Distance travelled = 400 kilometers = 400,000 meters

Average gradient = (-200 meters) / (400,000 meters) = -0.0005
Since gradient is usually expressed in positive terms, we take the absolute value to get:

Average gradient = 0.0005 = 0.5 m/km (rounded to 1 decimal place)
Therefore, the correct choice is C.

A Stream Begins at an Elevation of 200 Meters and Flows