Beach Science: Understanding Sand, Waves, and Shoreline Changes

Elaine from Fun Science Demos explores the science at the beach. She demonstrates how water is absorbed by sand, making it firmer, and explains the concept of the shoreline. Using a pencil to create waves, she shows how wave energy changes the shoreline over time through erosion, carrying sand particles back into the ocean. The video concludes with an invitation to learn more about erosion through additional resources.

What does the container filled with sand represent in the demonstration?

• A forest

• A desert

• A mountain

• A beach

What happens to the sand when water is poured into it?

• The sand evaporates

• The sand becomes firmer

• The sand dissolves

• The sand changes color

Why does the sand feel firmer under your feet at the beach?

• Because it is wet

• Because it is dry

• Because it is cold

• Because it is hot

What is the area called where the ocean meets the shore?

• The waterline

• The shoreline

• The beachline

• The coastline

What effect does wave energy have on the shoreline over time?

• It makes the shoreline longer

• It changes the shape of the shoreline

• It has no effect on the shoreline

• It makes the shoreline disappear

What is the main cause of the arc and curve formation along the shoreline?

• Animal movement

• Human activity

• Wave erosion

• Wind action

What is the process called when waves carry sand back into the ocean?

• Deposition

• Erosion

• Compaction

• Sedimentation

What happens to the sand particles that are eroded by the waves?

• They are carried to the ocean floor

• They remain on the shore

• They are dissolved in the water

• They are blown away by the wind

What natural process is responsible for the changing depth of water as you walk into the ocean?

• Waves

• Currents

• Erosion

• Tides

What is the significance of erosion in the context of beach science?

• It creates new beaches

• It spreads sand across the ocean floor

• It prevents waves from reaching the shore

• It stops the formation of shorelines