Mock exam

beach material/sediment  transported along the coast 

waves hit at an angle (swash) due to prevailing wind

dragged back by backwash

When waves break on to a beach at an angle, material is pushed up the beach at the same angle by the swash

material is pushed back down the beach by the backwash at ninety degrees to the coast.

made up of eroded material that has been transported from elsewhere using longshore drift

Constructive waves help to build up beaches.

• Cracks in cliff face+waves with sand+hydraulic action 
• =wave cut notch

erodes over time 

=cave 

breaks through

=arch

Arch collapses

=stack

attacks base

=stump

Weathering and erosion can create caves, arches, stacks and stumps along a headland.

• Weather weakens the top of the cliff.
• The sea attacks the base of the cliff forming a wave-cut notch.
• The notch increases in size causing the cliff to collapse.
• The backwash carries the rubble towards the sea forming a wave-cut platform.
• The process repeats and the cliff continues to retreat.

• Crack
• cave
• arch
• stack
• stump

Hard/soft rock attacked by destructive waves

section of land left stuck out

headland