What happens as water flows over different rock types like whinsill and sandstone?

As water flows over different rock types, such as whinsill and sandstone, it can lead to the formation of a waterfall. This occurs when water cascades over a cliff or steep drop, which is often the result of varying erosion rates of different rock types. Whinsill, which is a harder volcanic rock, erodes more slowly than sandstone, a softer sedimentary rock. This difference in erosion creates a step in the landscape, where the water flows rapidly over the harder rock, creating a drop that forms a waterfall. The flowing water’s energy can also contribute to further erosion downstream, enhancing the waterfall's characteristics and features.

In contrast, meanders, floodplains, and ox-bow lakes involve different processes related to sediment transport and deposition rather than vertical drops created by variations in rock hardness. These processes usually occur in a more extensive and gentler river system rather than at a waterfall site.