Waves with a tiny wavelength of less than 1.73 cm that have surface tension as their restoring force are known as?

Waves that exhibit a wavelength of less than 1.73 cm and have surface tension as their restoring force are identified as capillary waves. These waves are usually the result of small disturbances on the surface of the water, often initiated by factors such as wind. The restoring force for these smaller waves is primarily the surface tension of the water, which attempts to minimize the surface area, leading to their characteristic small wavelength.

As the wavelength increases beyond that threshold, gravity becomes the dominant restoring force, leading to the formation of larger waves classified as gravity waves. In contrast, transitional waves occur between capillary and gravity waves with wavelengths ranging from approximately 1.73 cm to 200 m, where both surface tension and gravity play roles in wave formation. Therefore, for wavelengths specifically less than 1.73 cm, the correct classification of the waves in question is capillary waves.