DepositionWaves that have a small amount of energy drop eroded materials that they are carrying to form a beachEXperiment


Beaches made from shingle are often narrow and steep.


Beaches formed from sand are wider and not as steep as those made from shingle.Discussion Point

Spits, tombolos and lagoons are formed from deposited material put down by the sea.
 
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Kent NGfL

 

 

 

Experiment
Resources:
clear plastic container with lid,
pebbles,
sand,
water.

 

Place the pebbles, sand and water into the container.

  • Look carefully at the sand and pebbles when the water is still then shake the container.
  • Predict what will happen when the water has stopped moving.
  • Look carefully at the materials in the container.

When the waves have less energy they are not able to carry as much material and so deposit sand and pebbles on the beach.

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Discussion Point

Describe the similarities and differences between beaches formed from sand and shingle. Which beach do you think a tourist would prefer?

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Beach: the area covered by sand or pebbles deposited by the sea. The beach acts as a buffer zone between the land and the sea. The shape of a beach is always changing.
Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spit: formed when sand and pebbles are built out from the beach. As more materials are deposited because of the current, the spit grows further into the sea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tombolo: a beach which reaches out to join an island to the mainland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lagoon: where a spit has joined two pieces of land and sea water is trapped behind to form a lake.