Starter: Spot the difference
Find six differences between the two pictures of Sam, Katie and Spike at the beach
• Learning Objectives
• What are the different types of wave?• Why are some waves bigger and stronger
than others?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2vkwy2vdP4
Why do waves break?
Waves are the result of the wind blowing over the sea. As they approach land they break.
The bottom of the wave touches the sand and slows down due to increased friction. The top of the wave becomes higher and steeper until it topples over.
Why are waves generally larger in the south west?
Wave energy depends on the fetch, the strength of the wind and the length of time over which the wind has blown.
fetch = the distance over which the wind has blown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtpk-PknwCo&eurl=http://www.geographyalltheway.com/igcse_geography/natural_environments/marine_processes/wave_processes.htm
The height of and strength of wavesdepends on 3 factors…1. Speed of the wind2. The length of time the wind blows for3. The length of water the winds blows over
(Fetch) – this is a useful definition and will impress examiners…
Types of waves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFykGLsDnM&eurl=http://www.geographyalltheway.com/igcse_geography/natural_environments/marine_processes/wave_processes.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHvAxYrHdDU&eurl=http://www.geographyalltheway.com/igcse_geography/natural_environments/marine_processes/wave_processes.htm
Using the Materials provided and Geog. GCSE p88-89, Make a model and explain to the rest of the group the following
processes
Group 1: What causes Waves? Why do waves break?
Group 2: Why are some waves bigger and stronger?
Group 3: What is a Constructive Wave?
Group 4: What is a Destructive Wave?
Summary
What causes waves?Waves are caused by the friction of the
wind on the surface of the water
Why are some waves bigger than others?
Wind speedTimeFetch
Six-foot swells are set to break on the Thames at an attraction aiming to tempt the growing ranks of urban surfers to taste the "quintessential California
surf lifestyle" in the unlikely surroundings of a disused dock in east London.
From 2011, the world's first outdoor artificial surfing machine will try to rival the Atlantic
breakers of Devon and Cornwall using cleaned river water.