Topic 4: The UK's Physical Landscape

Question 1

What are 3 physical processes that have shaped the UK’s physical landscape?

Answer 1

• Glaciation
• Tectonic Processes
• Geology

Question 2

What are the 3 different rock types in the UK?

Answer 2

• Igneous rocks
• Sedimentary rocks
• Metamorphic rocks

Question 3

What are igneous rocks?

Answer 3

Igneous rocks are rocks that are formed when magma cools and hardens

Question 4

What are sedimentary rocks?

Answer 4

Sedimentary rocks are rocks that are formed when layers of sediment are compacted together

Question 5

What are metamorphic rocks?

Answer 5

Metamorphic rocks are rocks that are formed when other rocks (igneous or metamorphic rocks) are changed by heat or pressure to become harder and more compact

Question 6

What are 2 examples of igneous rocks?

Answer 6

Granite and Basalt

Question 7

What are 2 examples of sedimentary rocks?

Answer 7

Sandstone and Limestone

Question 8

What are 2 examples of metamorphic rocks?

Answer 8

Marble and Slate

Question 9

What type of rock is found in the lowlands of the UK?

Answer 9

Sedimentary rocks

Question 10

What type of rocks are found in the uplands of the UK?

Answer 10

Igneous and Metamorphic rocks

Question 11

What are the 2 types of waves?

Answer 11

• Destructive waves
• Constructive waves

Question 12

What are some characteristics of destructive waves?

Answer 12

• Destructive waves are much taller than constructive waves
• Destructive waves have a shorter wavelength than constructive waves
• The backwash of destructive waves is more powerful than the swash, meaning material is removed from the coast

Question 13

What are some characteristics of constructive waves?

Answer 13

• Constructive waves are much shorter than destructive waves
• Constructive waves have a longer wavelength than destructive waves
• The swash is more powerful than the backwash of constructive waves, meaning material moves back up the coast

Question 14

What are the 3 different processes of erosion?

Answer 14

• Abrasion
• Hydraulic action
• Attrition

Question 15

What is abrasion?

Answer 15

Abrasion is when small eroded particles in the water scrape against the rock of a coast, removing small parts of the coast

Question 16

What is hydraulic action?

Answer 16

Hydraulic action is when waves crash against the rock of a coast and compress air into the cracks, this happens over and over again until the rock breaks off

Question 17

What is attrition?

Answer 17

When small particles in the water smash into each other and break into smaller fragments (also rounding their edges)

Question 18

What are the two types of coastlines?

Answer 18

• Concordant coastlines
• Discordant coastlines

Question 19

What is a discordant coastline?

Answer 19

A coastline where the layers of rock run perpendicular to the coastline, meaning that the coastline is made up of multiple different types of rock layered next to each other

Question 20

What is a concordant coastline?

Answer 20

A coastline where the layers of rock run parallel to the coastline, meaning the coastline is made up of only one type of rock

Question 21

On what coastline do headlands and bays form?

Answer 21

On a discordant coastlime

Question 22

How does a headland and bay form?

Answer 22

A headland and bay forms on a discordant coastline when there are layers of soft rock next to layers of hard rock, this causes the soft rock to get eroded far more than the hard rock - causing headlands where the hard rock is and bays where the soft rock is

Question 23

What is the order of formation from a crack to a stump and how do these different features form?

Answer 23

1) Cracks begin to form on the side of a headland

2) These cracks become bigger and eventually cause a cave

3) As the inside of the cave is eroded more and more, it breaks through the other side of the headland, leaving an empty spot below a line of rock, this is called an arch

4) The line of rock above this empty space eventually collapses on itself, this leaves a stack

5) The top parts of this stack eventually fall down due to erosion, this leaves a stump

Question 24

How do wave cut notch’s and platforms occur on a cliff?

Answer 24

Over time waves erode away the bottom part of the cliff, this is called a wave cut notch.

This leaves the upper part of the cliff unstable and causes it to collapse. This forms a platform at the bottom front of the cliff.

Question 25

What is deposition?

Answer 25

Deposition is when material is deposited by constructive waves, forming landscapes such as: beaches, spits and bars

Question 26

How does a spit form?

Answer 26

A spit forms when sediment is dropped on a headland and builds up and eventually so much sediment is built up that it forms a line moving away from the headland called a **spit**

Question 27

How does a spit turn into a bar?

Answer 27

A spit turns into a bar when the spit grows so far that it connects two headlands together, forming a lagoon

Question 28

What are the 4 different ways that sediment can be transported?

Answer 28

- Solution - Suspension - Saltation - Traction

Question 29

What is solution?

Answer 29

When very small pieces of rock dissolve in the water and are deposited through it

Question 30

What is suspension?

Answer 30

Small particles that are carried by the water

Question 31

What is saltation?

Answer 31

When particles that are too heavy to be carried through the water hop/bounce across the river bed

Question 32

What is traction?

Answer 32

When very large pebbles roll along the seabed

Question 33

How does longshore drift occur?

Answer 33

Longshore drift occurs when the swash of a wave happens at a different angle to the backwash, meaning that sediment is moved up the beach