A wave with wavelength greater than 1.73 cm whose restoring forces are gravity and momentum is called what?

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Multiple Choice

A wave with wavelength greater than 1.73 cm whose restoring forces are gravity and momentum is called what?

Explanation:
The key idea is how the wave is restored to its equilibrium. Capillary waves are driven by surface tension and occur at very short wavelengths (typically up to about 1.7–2 cm). When the wavelength is longer than that boundary, gravity becomes the main restoring force, with the water’s inertia (momentum) carrying the motion. So a wave with wavelength greater than about 1.7 cm is classified as a gravity wave. Seiche describes standing waves in a confined basin, not the general traveling wave type in open water, and tsunami are also gravity waves but the defining criterion here is the restoring force. Therefore, the best answer is gravity wave.

The key idea is how the wave is restored to its equilibrium. Capillary waves are driven by surface tension and occur at very short wavelengths (typically up to about 1.7–2 cm). When the wavelength is longer than that boundary, gravity becomes the main restoring force, with the water’s inertia (momentum) carrying the motion. So a wave with wavelength greater than about 1.7 cm is classified as a gravity wave. Seiche describes standing waves in a confined basin, not the general traveling wave type in open water, and tsunami are also gravity waves but the defining criterion here is the restoring force. Therefore, the best answer is gravity wave.

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