Which term describes the height-to-wavelength ratio representing the theoretical maximum steepness in shallow water?

• A. Wave Height
• B. Wave Refraction
• C. Wave Crest
• D. Wave Steepness

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that a wave’s shape in shallow water is described by how tall the wave is compared to its wavelength, a height-to-wavelength ratio. As waves move into shallower water, their speed drops while their wavelength shortens and their height increases, pushing this ratio toward a maximum. When H/L reaches about 1/7, the wave is at the limit of stability and tends to break. This ratio and its limiting value define wave steepness, the term that describes the height-to-wavelength relationship. The other terms don’t describe a ratio or stability threshold: wave height is just the vertical distance from trough to crest, wave refraction is about bending of waves due to changing depths, and a wave crest is simply the top part of a wave.