WJEC A-Level Geography 601-8455-3
Coastal Landscapes
Glaciated Landscapes
Tectonic Hazards
Changing Places
Water and Carbon Cycles
Global Migration
Global Governance of the Oceans
EcosystemsContemporary theme
Economic Growth and Challenge: IndiaContemporary theme
Economic Growth and Challenge: ChinaContemporary theme
Development in an African ContextContemporary theme
Energy Challenges and DilemmasContemporary theme
Weather and ClimateContemporary theme
Fieldwork and Geographical Skills
Coastal Landscapes
Constructive and destructive waves
- 3 things to know
- AS Unit 1
Overview
Swash of a wave, backwash of a wave and three characteristics of a constructive wave.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Why does a wave break as it approaches the shore?
Define the swash of a wave.
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
How does a wave transfer energy without moving water forward in the open sea?
Model answer
Water particles move in a circular orbit as the wave passes, returning close to where they started, so the energy travels while the water largely stays put.
- 2
Why does a wave break as it approaches the shore?
Model answer
The sea bed shallows and interferes with the base of the orbit, so the wave slows and steepens until the crest outruns the base and topples forward.
- 3
Define the swash of a wave.
Model answer
The swash is the water rushing up the beach after a wave breaks.
- 4
Define the backwash of a wave.
Model answer
The backwash is the water draining back down the beach under gravity after the swash.
- 5
State three characteristics of a constructive wave.
Model answer
A low wave height, a long wavelength and a low frequency of about six to eight waves a minute, giving a strong swash and a weak backwash.
- 6
State three characteristics of a destructive wave.
Model answer
A high wave height, a short wavelength and a high frequency of about thirteen to fifteen waves a minute, giving a weak swash and a strong backwash.
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