Coasts

Question 1

What is a coast an example of?

Answer 1

A landscape system

Question 2

Define an input of a coast.

Answer 2

A factor that influences the amount of energy affecting the coast

Question 3

Define a process at the coast.

Answer 3

How the energy is used

Question 4

Define an output at the coast.

Answer 4

A landform that results from energy use at the coast

Question 5

What is dynamic equilibrium?

Answer 5

The state of inputs and outputs being the same, and the system becoming balanced.

Question 6

What is a dynamic system?

Answer 6

A set of inputs and outputs which are constantly changing. Eventually, dynamic systems will reach dynamic equilibrium

Question 7

What is a feedback loop?

Answer 7

A series of events which are triggered by a change.

Question 8

What are the two types of feedback loop?

Answer 8

Positive and negative feed back loops.

Question 9

Define a positive feedback loop.

Answer 9

The less common type of feedback loop where the amount of change to a factor is increased

Question 10

Define a negative feedback loop.

Answer 10

The more common type to feedback loop is where the amount of change is decreased by reducing some of the inputs

Question 11

What is a coast fetch?

Answer 11

The distance of open ocean or sea where the wind travels while powering waves

Question 12

What is the geographic formula for calculating the power of a wave? Define each letter.

Answer 12

P = H² X T
P = Power of the wave in kilowatts
H = Height of the wave in metres 
T = Time between the wave in seconds

Question 13

What are the two main types of waves?

Answer 13

Destructive and constructive

Question 14

Define a destructive wave.

Answer 14

The type of wave where the backwash is stronger than the swash, and removes beach material from the coast

Question 15

Define a constructive wave.

Answer 15

The type of wave where the swash is stronger than the backwash, and adds beach material to the coast

Question 16

Describe the movement of water within a wave.

Answer 16

It is circular, with movement up and down, back and forth

Question 17

What is a breaking wave? Give 3 examples.

Answer 17

A breaking wave is when a wave reaches the seabed, and loses energy through friction. 3 examples of the breaking wave movements would be spilling, plunging and surging.

Question 18

What is the most destructive type of breaking wave found at the coast?

Answer 18

The plunging wave

Question 19

What causes tides on planet Earth?

Answer 19

The gravitational pull of the moon.

Question 20

What is a spring tide, and why is it the height that it is?

Answer 20

The highest type of tide, which occurs when the earth, sun and moon are aligned, resulting in an increased moon gravitational pull.

Question 21

What is a neap tide, and why is it the height that it is?

Answer 21

The lowest type of tide, caused by the moon, earth and sun being at right angles to each other, thus decreasing the moon gravitational pull.

Question 22

What are the main 3 categories of weathering?

Answer 22

Biological, chemical and mechanical.

Question 23

Define biological weathering.

Answer 23

Caused by animal and plant factors, for example the roots of a tree growing into rock, expanding and then breaking it apart.

Question 24

Define chemical weathering.

Answer 24

The type of weathering where elements and compounds react with each other to break down rock, for example, oxidation which describes iron oxides reacting with rock minerals to create weakness.