Question 1: Describe the process of hydraulic action and how it contributes to the formation of coastal landforms.

Answer: Hydraulic action occurs when waves crash against the cliff or coast, compressing air into cracks and causing erosion. Over time, this process enlarges cracks and helps form features like caves and arches.

Question 2: Explain the difference between a wave-cut platform and a headland.

Answer: A wave-cut platform is a flat area formed at the base of a cliff due to erosion, while a headland is a point of land that juts out into the sea, often made of resistant rock that erodes more slowly.

Question 3: Identify and describe two types of coastal erosion that shape the coastline.

Answer: Abrasion occurs when rocks and sand carried by waves grind against the coast, wearing it away. Attrition happens when rocks and pebbles collide and break into smaller, smoother pieces.

Question 4: Explain how a wave-cut notch forms and what it indicates about the coastline.

Answer: A wave-cut notch forms when waves erode the base of a cliff, creating a small indentation. Over time, this weakens the cliff, which may collapse, causing the notch to enlarge and indicating active erosion.

Question 5: Describe what a spit is and how it is formed.

Answer: A spit is a narrow stretch of land that extends into the sea, formed when longshore drift transports sand and pebbles along the coast, depositing them where the coastline changes direction.

Question 6: Sketch a simple diagram of a typical coastal stack and label its main parts.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a tall, isolated column of resistant rock standing offshore, with a base eroded by the sea, and possibly an arch at the top or a smaller stack nearby. Labels should include 'stack', 'sea', and 'cliff'.

Question 7: Explain how longshore drift affects the shape of the coastline.

Answer: Longshore drift moves sediment along the coast in the direction of prevailing winds and wave action, which can cause the coastline to extend, form spits, or create other depositional features.

Question 8: Describe the role of coral reefs in protecting coastlines.

Answer: Coral reefs act as natural barriers that absorb wave energy, reducing the impact of waves on the coast and helping to prevent erosion and flooding in nearby land areas.

Question 9: Identify a human activity that can contribute to coastal erosion and explain how.

Answer: Construction of buildings or roads near the coast can increase erosion by disturbing natural sediment movement and increasing runoff, which accelerates the wearing away of the shoreline.

Question 10: Explain the difference between constructive and destructive waves and their impact on the coast.

Answer: Constructive waves have low height, long wavelength, and deposit material on the shore, building up the coast. Destructive waves are high, short, and strong, eroding material from the coast.