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5 Jan 2026
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GCSE Edexcel Geography B: Comprehensive Topic 4 Mind Map
Abigail Brett
@pamplemousse
UK Physical Geography Fundamentals
Weathering and mass movement are constantly reshaping Britain's landscape, and you'll need to understand the different types for your exams. Biological weathering happens when plant roots force their way into cracks, gradually splitting rocks apart. Chemical weathering occurs when acidic rainwater slowly dissolves materials like limestone over time.
Freeze-thaw weathering works just like hydraulic action - water gets into cracks, freezes and expands, then breaks the rock apart. This process is particularly common in Britain's colder upland areas where temperatures regularly drop below freezing.
Mass movement includes processes like soil creep, where individual soil particles slowly move downhill due to gravity, and slumping, where entire sections of cliff base slide down after the bottom gets eroded away. These processes happen so gradually that you might not notice them, but they're constantly changing our coastlines and hillsides.
Quick Tip: Remember that weathering breaks down rocks in place, whilst erosion actually moves the broken material away.
The UK's landscape divides into upland and lowland areas, separated roughly by the Tees-Exe line. Uplands are rocky, mountainous regions with colder, wetter weather and shallow, infertile soils. Lowlands feature flatter, rolling landscapes with warmer, drier conditions and deep, fertile soils perfect for farming.
Understanding UK rock types is crucial - sedimentary rocks like chalk and limestone erode easily, igneous rocks from volcanic activity resist erosion well, and metamorphic rocks like slate are hard and impermeable. These different rock types explain why some areas are mountainous whilst others are flat.
Coastal Processes and Landforms
Britain's coastline constantly changes due to coastal erosion processes that you'll definitely encounter in your geography assessments. Hydraulic action forces water and air into rock cracks under enormous pressure, gradually splitting them apart. Abrasion works like natural sandpaper as waves hurl rocks and pebbles against cliff faces.
Corrosion (also called solution) involves chemicals in seawater slowly dissolving certain types of rock, particularly limestone and chalk. Attrition rounds and shrinks rocks as they bash together in the waves, creating the smooth pebbles you find on beaches.
The famous sequence of cave, arch, stack, and stump formation demonstrates how these processes work together. It starts when hydraulic action creates a crack in the rock, which widens into a notch, then a cave. Eventually, the cave breaks through to form an arch, which collapses to leave a stack, and finally erodes down to a stump.
Headlands and bays form where different rock types meet the sea - harder rocks resist erosion and stick out as headlands, whilst softer rocks erode faster to create sheltered bays. This differential erosion creates the varied coastline that makes Britain's shores so distinctive.
Exam Focus: Make sure you can draw and label the cave-arch-stack-stump sequence - it's a popular diagram question.
Rivers and Land Use
The Bradshaw Model explains how British rivers change from their source to the sea, and it's essential knowledge for understanding our landscape. In the upper course, you'll find V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, and dramatic waterfalls where rivers cut down through hard rock. The middle course features meandering rivers and oxbow lakes as the gradient reduces.
The lower course creates wide floodplains and estuaries where rivers meet the sea. These flat, fertile areas become prime locations for settlements and agriculture because the soil is rich and transport links are excellent.
Land use patterns directly relate to physical geography - you can't change the basics of what the land offers. Dairy farming needs green grass and easy access for milking, so it thrives in lowland areas. Sheep farming works in harsh upland conditions where other agriculture fails. Forestry often uses upland areas unsuitable for crops, creating those distinctive straight-line plantations you see from train windows.
Urbanisation and tourism also follow geographical patterns. Cities develop in lowland areas with good transport links, whilst upland areas attract tourists seeking dramatic scenery but struggle with limited entertainment options and harsh weather.
Real-World Connection: Next time you're travelling around the UK, notice how land use changes as you move from uplands to lowlands - it's geography in action!
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Stefan S
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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
GCSE Edexcel Geography B: Comprehensive Topic 4 Mind Map
Abigail Brett
@pamplemousse
UK physical geography shapes everything from where we live to what we can grow on our land. Understanding how weathering, erosion, and different landscapes work will help you make sense of why Britain looks the way it does today.
UK Physical Geography Fundamentals
Weathering and mass movement are constantly reshaping Britain's landscape, and you'll need to understand the different types for your exams. Biological weathering happens when plant roots force their way into cracks, gradually splitting rocks apart. Chemical weathering occurs when acidic rainwater slowly dissolves materials like limestone over time.
Freeze-thaw weathering works just like hydraulic action - water gets into cracks, freezes and expands, then breaks the rock apart. This process is particularly common in Britain's colder upland areas where temperatures regularly drop below freezing.
Mass movement includes processes like soil creep, where individual soil particles slowly move downhill due to gravity, and slumping, where entire sections of cliff base slide down after the bottom gets eroded away. These processes happen so gradually that you might not notice them, but they're constantly changing our coastlines and hillsides.
Quick Tip: Remember that weathering breaks down rocks in place, whilst erosion actually moves the broken material away.
The UK's landscape divides into upland and lowland areas, separated roughly by the Tees-Exe line. Uplands are rocky, mountainous regions with colder, wetter weather and shallow, infertile soils. Lowlands feature flatter, rolling landscapes with warmer, drier conditions and deep, fertile soils perfect for farming.
Understanding UK rock types is crucial - sedimentary rocks like chalk and limestone erode easily, igneous rocks from volcanic activity resist erosion well, and metamorphic rocks like slate are hard and impermeable. These different rock types explain why some areas are mountainous whilst others are flat.
Coastal Processes and Landforms
Britain's coastline constantly changes due to coastal erosion processes that you'll definitely encounter in your geography assessments. Hydraulic action forces water and air into rock cracks under enormous pressure, gradually splitting them apart. Abrasion works like natural sandpaper as waves hurl rocks and pebbles against cliff faces.
Corrosion (also called solution) involves chemicals in seawater slowly dissolving certain types of rock, particularly limestone and chalk. Attrition rounds and shrinks rocks as they bash together in the waves, creating the smooth pebbles you find on beaches.
The famous sequence of cave, arch, stack, and stump formation demonstrates how these processes work together. It starts when hydraulic action creates a crack in the rock, which widens into a notch, then a cave. Eventually, the cave breaks through to form an arch, which collapses to leave a stack, and finally erodes down to a stump.
Headlands and bays form where different rock types meet the sea - harder rocks resist erosion and stick out as headlands, whilst softer rocks erode faster to create sheltered bays. This differential erosion creates the varied coastline that makes Britain's shores so distinctive.
Exam Focus: Make sure you can draw and label the cave-arch-stack-stump sequence - it's a popular diagram question.
Rivers and Land Use
The Bradshaw Model explains how British rivers change from their source to the sea, and it's essential knowledge for understanding our landscape. In the upper course, you'll find V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, and dramatic waterfalls where rivers cut down through hard rock. The middle course features meandering rivers and oxbow lakes as the gradient reduces.
The lower course creates wide floodplains and estuaries where rivers meet the sea. These flat, fertile areas become prime locations for settlements and agriculture because the soil is rich and transport links are excellent.
Land use patterns directly relate to physical geography - you can't change the basics of what the land offers. Dairy farming needs green grass and easy access for milking, so it thrives in lowland areas. Sheep farming works in harsh upland conditions where other agriculture fails. Forestry often uses upland areas unsuitable for crops, creating those distinctive straight-line plantations you see from train windows.
Urbanisation and tourism also follow geographical patterns. Cities develop in lowland areas with good transport links, whilst upland areas attract tourists seeking dramatic scenery but struggle with limited entertainment options and harsh weather.
Real-World Connection: Next time you're travelling around the UK, notice how land use changes as you move from uplands to lowlands - it's geography in action!
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content in Geography
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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user