icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
AQA

The role of geology at the coast

I can understand how geology can affect the development of coastal landforms.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
AQA

The role of geology at the coast

I can understand how geology can affect the development of coastal landforms.

warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Rock type (hard/soft) affects the development of coastal landforms.
  2. Geological structure can result in concordant and discordant coastlines.

Keywords

  • Rock type - the physical and chemical characteristics of rocks

  • Geological structure - the arrangement of rock layers and rock features

  • Discordant coastline - where rock layers (hard and soft) run perpendicular to the coastline

  • Concordant coastline - where rock layers (hard and soft) run parallel to the coastline

Common misconception

Boulder clay is an example of sedimentary rock.

Boulder clay is an example of glacial till. Glacial till is an example of sedimentary deposits.


To help you plan your year 10 geography lesson on: The role of geology at the coast, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

GIS could be used in this lesson to overlay different data sets, such as geology, on current OS maps to explore rates of coastal erosion.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following best describes weathering?
The physical movement of rock material down a slope.
The sudden collapse of rock due to gravity.
Correct answer: The breakdown or disintegration of rocks at or close to Earth's surface.
The transport of sediment along a coast.
Q2.
Which of the following is true about constructive waves?
They are tall and have a strong backwash.
They have a weak swash and strong backwash.
Correct answer: They have a strong swash and weak backwash.
They erode the beach more than they build it.
Q3.
Define hydraulic action.
The process where rocks are thrown against a cliff by waves.
Correct answer: The pressure of water breaking rocks apart.
The chemical reaction of seawater with rock.
The grinding of rocks against each other, making them smaller.
Q4.
What causes freeze-thaw weathering?
The chemical reaction between water and rock minerals.
The heating and cooling of rock causing cracks.
The movement of ice scraping against rocks.
Correct answer: The expansion of water as it freezes in cracks in rocks.
Q5.
What best describes the process of slumping?
The slow movement of soil down a slope.
A sudden movement of rockfall.
Correct answer: The movement of land down a curved surface.
The gradual scraping of rock by wind or water.
Q6.
"High, steep waves, typically formed by local storms, that remove sediment from beaches", this statement describes waves.
Correct Answer: Destructive

4 Questions

Q1.
Which of these categories is the best fit for glacial till?
sedimentary rock
Correct answer: unconsolidated material
igneous rock
metamorphic rock
Q2.
The name of a coastline that has alternative layers of hard and soft rock running perpendicular to the coastline is a coastline.
Correct Answer: discordant
Q3.
Coves are characteristic of which coastline type?
discordant
discordant and concordant
Correct answer: concordant
Q4.
Match the rock type to how it is formed
Correct Answer:igenous rock,through volcanic activity
tick

through volcanic activity

Correct Answer:metamorphic rock,when existing rocks are exposed to heat and pressure
tick

when existing rocks are exposed to heat and pressure

Correct Answer:sedimentary rock,layers of sediment that are compressed
tick

layers of sediment that are compressed