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To obtain a power-law river kinematic wave, let $P_b$ be the wetted perimeter and $I$ the small bed slope. A uniform-flow force balance per unit river length is $\rho gAI={\tau }_b{P}_b$. With a Chézy friction law ${\tau }_b=\rho f{u}^2$, it gives $u=(gI/f{)}^{1/2}(A/P_b{)}^{1/2}$. Thus the hydraulic radius determines the power of area.

For a channel family with $P_b=P_0{A}^q$, where $q<1$, we have $u=C{A}^{(1-q)/2}$, with $C=(gI/(f{P}_0){)}^{1/2}$. Set $m=(1-q)/2>0$ and $c=(m+1)C$. ThenFor example a broad fixed-width rectangular channel has approximately constant wetted perimeter, giving $m=1/2$; a geometrically similar channel family has $P_b\propto A^{1/2}$, giving $m=1/4$. The exponent is therefore a geometry-dependent consequence of the friction balance, not a universal arbitrary value fixed by Chezy's law alone.