1. Starter: Spot the difference
Find six differences between the two pictures of Sam, Katie and Spike at the beach

2. What are the different types of wave?
Learning Objectives
What are the different types of wave?
Why are some waves bigger and stronger than others?

3. 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.

4. Swash and backwash Backwash Swash
Note: Backwash is always at right angles to the beach

5. Why are some waves bigger than others?
Where do people go surfing in the UK?

6. Fetch
The greater the distance over which the wind blows, the bigger and stronger the waves are.

7. 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

8. Which of these would give the biggest waves and why?

9. What about in the world?

11. Place
Good surfing
Poor surfing
Reason
Blackpool
Newquay
Great Yarmouth
Bournemouth

12. The height of and strength of waves
depends on 3 factors…
Speed of the wind
The length of time the wind blows for
The length of water the winds blows over (Fetch) – this is a useful definition and will impress examiners…

13. Types of waves

14. Using the Materials provided and Geog
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?

15. Answer questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 from Geog. GCSE

16. 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 speed
Time
Fetch

17. 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.

18. Which of these would give the biggest waves and why?