Physical Geography

Question 1

What is Weathering and what are the three types?

Answer 1

Weathering helps wear away rocks. There are three types: Chemical, Biological and Mechanical.

Question 2

What is Biological Weathering?

Answer 2

Biological Weathering is the actions of plans and animals that cause the rock to split apart.

Question 3

What is Chemical Weathering?

Answer 3

Chemical Weathering is when the rocks react with slightly acidic water. A weak chemical reaction takes place causing the rock to weaken and break down.

Question 4

What is Mechanical Weathering?

Answer 4

Mechanical Weathering is when the water falls into the cracks in the rocks and freezes. It expands by about 10% when the water freezes. When the ice melts, the water seeps deeper into the rock along the deepened crack. Fragments of rock may break off.

Question 5

What is Abrasion?

Answer 5

Abrasion is when the breaking waves throw sand and pebbles against the coast during storms.

Question 6

What is Hydraulic Action?

Answer 6

Hydraulic action is the sheer weight and impact of water against the coastline. The water compresses air that is in cracks in the rock which weakens the rock.

Question 7

What is Attrition?

Answer 7

Attrition is when rocks that have been carried by the waves break into smaller pieces.

Question 8

What is Longshore Drift?

Answer 8

Longshore Drift is the process whereby beach sediment is transported along the beach by the waves.

Question 9

Name the four ways beach sediment can be transported.

Answer 9

Traction, Saltation, Suspension and Solution.

Question 10

What is Deposition?

Answer 10

Deposition is the dropping of material along the beach.

Question 11

What is a Concordant Coast?

Answer 11

A Concordant Coast is a coast that is made up of the same rock. Whereas a discordant coast is made up of alternating rock types.

Question 12

What is a headland?

Answer 12

A headland is an erosional landform that is formed when hard frocks are left jutting out in the sea forming headlands.

Question 13

How is a stack formed?

Answer 13

A stack is formed when an arch collapses.

Question 14

How is a wave-cut platform formed?

Answer 14

They are formed by the erosion of cliffs.

Question 15

How is a spit formed?

Answer 15

A spit is formed by longshore drift that is powered by a strong prevailing wind.

Question 16

Name three examples of hard engineering.

Answer 16

Sea wall, Groynes and Rip Rap defences.

Question 17

Name three examples of Soft Engineering.

Answer 17

Beach Replenishment and Offshore Reef.

Question 18

How are Beaches formed?

Answer 18

Beaches are formed by deposition. They are shaped by erosion, transportation and deposition.

Question 19

What is the river profile?

Answer 19

The river profile is the height and distance from the source of the river to the mouth of the river.

Question 20

What are Interlocking Spurs?

Answer 20

Interlocking Spurs are a feature of the upper course of a river. They flow naturally from side to side.

Question 21

How is an Ox-Bow lake formed?

Answer 21

1} The narrow neck of the meander is gradually eroded.
2} The water then takes the quickest route.
3} Deposition then occurs which seals off old meander.
4} The meander neck now has been cut through completely.
5} The Ox-Bow lake is left behind where the meander was cut off completely.

Question 22

How has Urbanisation affected the River Landscape?

Answer 22

It has affected the river landscape because it’s meant that towns have grown meaning that there are fewer permeable surfaces. However it has meant that due to the increasing demand for houses they have had to begin building houses on floodplains.

Question 23

What are the physical causes of Flooding?

Answer 23

The physical causes of flooding are Rainfall intensity =, Geology, Snowmelt and Drainage basins.

Question 24

What are some examples of River Management?

Answer 24

One example is that you can build dams and reservoirs.. Another is Channelisation. They are both examples of Hard Engineering. One example of soft engineering is Floodplain Zoning and another is Washlands.

Question 25

How has the landscape of the River Dee changed?

Answer 25

The source of the River Dee is Ddualit in Wales. Annual Precipitation is very high in this area of Wales. The Dee flows south-easterly. Near Chester the river meanders across a wide floodplain eroding softer sedimentary rocks.

Question 26

What is Solution?

Answer 26

Solution is a form of coastal erosion and is a coastal marine process. This is the chemical action on rocks that is caused by seawater. It is most effective on limestone in which the calcium is dissolved and carried away in solution.

Question 27

What is Mass movement?

Answer 27

Mass movement is the downwards movement of rocks and soil from the cliff top under the influence of gravity.

Question 28

What is Rock falls?

Answer 28

This occurs when pieces of rock from a weathered cliff fall. This often occurs as the rock at the bottom of the cliff has been undercut by the action of the waves. This then results in the rock being unsupported causing it to collapse.

Question 29

What is Slumping?

Answer 29

This commonly occurs after long periods of rainfall. The rain seeps through permeable rocks such as sandstone. At the junction where the permeable rock meets an impermeable rock such as clay. This causes the saturated soil and weaker rock to slump and slide along a curved surface.

Question 30

What is sliding?

Answer 30

This is similar to slumping but the movement occurs along a flat surface. Large amounts of soil and rock move downslope rapidly and this can cause a great amount of damage.

Question 31

What is traction?

Answer 31

Traction is where large boulders are rolled along the seabed by the waves.

Question 32

What is Saltation?

Answer 32

Saltation is where smaller stones are bounced along the seabed.