Longshore Drift Worksheet

Name:

Date:

🌊 Part 1: Understanding Longshore Drift

What is Longshore Drift?

Longshore drift is the way waves move sand, pebbles and other materials along the beach. The waves come in at an angle and carry materials sideways along the coast.

1. What does longshore drift move along the beach?

Only water

Sand, pebbles and other materials

Only fish

2. How do waves approach the beach during longshore drift?

Straight on

At an angle

From behind

3. Fill in the blank: Longshore drift moves materials ________ along the coast.

Answer: _________________

🏖️ Part 2: Types of Coastal Transportation

There are four main ways that waves transport (move) materials:

• Traction: Large rocks roll along the seabed
• Saltation: Small pebbles bounce along the seabed
• Suspension: Tiny particles float in the water
• Solution: Materials dissolve in the water

4. Match each type of transportation to its description:

Traction = ____________________

Saltation = ____________________

Suspension = ____________________

Solution = ____________________

Choose from: bouncing pebbles, floating particles, rolling rocks, dissolved materials

5. Which type of transportation would move the heaviest materials?

Suspension

Traction

Solution