---
title: "SO5: Waves, Tides, and Coasts (Georgia Science standard)"
code: SO5
cite_as: Georgia Standards of Excellence, Science, SO5
subject: science
grades:
  - high-school
language: en
canonical_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SO5
md_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SO5.md
alternate_language_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/es/standards/code/SO5.md
source_url: https://case.georgiastandards.org/ims/case/v1p1/CFDocuments/27a08dc6-416e-11e7-ba71-02bd89fdd987
source_last_changed: 2025-05-29
data_built: 2026-09-18
publisher: Georgia Homeroom, a free public-interest project of Georgia Civic Data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Georgia Department of Education or any school district.
up: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/science/high-school.md
index: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/index.md
---

# SO5: Waves, Tides, and Coasts

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information on how waves and tides are created and their influence on coastal processes.

- Subject: Science
- Appears in: High School, https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/science/high-school.md

## Expectations

- **SO5.a**: Develop and use models to demonstrate how ocean waves are generated. (Clarification statement: Consideration should be given to the type of waves formed by wind, atmospheric pressure gradients, gravitation, earthquakes, storms, and surface tension forces.)
- **SO5.b**: Use mathematics and computational thinking to analyze the properties of ocean waves and how they change as they interact with the seafloor.
- **SO5.c**: Construct an argument based on evidence from tide tables and lunar calendars to explain the role of the moon and sun in the formation of tides and tidal patterns.
- **SO5.d**: Construct an explanation for the effects of waves and tides on coastlines, including how they interact with sandy shorelines to transport sediments, influence barrier islands, and affect the marine organisms that live there.

## Georgia Milestones coverage

No Georgia Milestones blueprint cites this standard.

Source: Georgia Standards of Excellence, published by the Georgia Department of Education at case.georgiastandards.org.