Which term is correctly matched with the description small ripples formed by light wind?

• A. Capillary waves
• B. Internal wave
• C. Whitecaps
• D. Wind shadow definition

Answer: (A)

Capillary waves are tiny surface ripples formed when light winds skim the water. At these small scales, surface tension is the main restoring force, so the waves have very short wavelengths and feel like fine, delicate ripples across the surface. As wind increases, gravity becomes the dominant force and larger waves with longer wavelengths (and eventually whitecaps) appear. Internal waves stay below the surface and aren’t visible as surface ripples, while a wind shadow is just a region of reduced wind behind an obstacle, not a type of ripple. So the description of small ripples created by light wind best matches capillary waves.