Editing Capillary wave (section)

{{short description|Wave on the surface of a fluid, dominated by surface tension}}
{{redirect|Rippled waves|the insect|Rippled wave|the electrical phenomenon|Ripple waveform||Ripple (disambiguation)}}
[[File:2006-01-14 Surface waves.jpg|thumb|Capillary waves (ripples) in water]]
[[File:Ripples Lifjord.jpg|thumb|Ripples on Lifjord in [[Øksnes Municipality]], [[Norway]]]]
[[File:Multy droplets impact.JPG|thumb|Capillary waves produced by [[droplet]] impacts on the interface between water and air.]]

A '''capillary wave''' is a [[wave]] traveling along the [[phase boundary]] of a fluid, whose [[Dynamics (mechanics)|dynamics]] and [[phase velocity]] are dominated by the effects of [[surface tension]].

Capillary waves are common in [[nature]], and are often referred to as '''ripples'''.  The [[wavelength]] of capillary waves on water is typically less than a few centimeters, with a [[phase speed]] in excess of 0.2–0.3 meter/second.

A longer wavelength on a fluid interface will result in '''gravity–capillary waves''' which are influenced by both the effects of surface tension and [[standard gravity|gravity]], as well as by fluid [[inertia]]. Ordinary [[gravity wave]]s have a still longer wavelength.

Light breezes upon the surface of water which stir up such small ripples are also sometimes referred to as 'cat's paws'. On the open ocean, much larger [[wind wave|ocean surface wave]]s ([[Wind wave|seas]] and [[swell (ocean)|swell]]s) may result from coalescence of smaller wind-caused ripple-waves.