Final answer:
Headlands are coastal features formed by wave erosion, which occurs when ocean waves repeatedly crash against the shore, eroding the land differently based on its rock resistance. Over time, erosion can create various formations including sea caves, arches, stacks, and eventually wave-cut platforms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the various coastal features formed by wave erosion. Through the process of erosion, ocean waves interacting with landmasses can create distinct physical features such as wave-cut platforms, cliffs, sea stacks, and headlands. Among the options given, headlands are the most relevant answer as they are coastal landforms shaped by the erosive power of the sea.When waves hit the shore, they often erode at different rates due to variations in rock resistance. The harder, more resistant areas become headlands, protruding into the sea, while the softer rocks are worn away to form bays. Over time, erosion at the base of these headlands can lead to the formation of sea caves, arches, stacks, and eventually wave-cut platforms as the land retreats.Other processes like continental drift, mountain building, and volcanic eruptions also play a role in shaping the earth's surface but are not typically associated with the immediate action of wave erosion on coastal landscapes.