Which wave type tends to have the shortest wavelength at a fixed frequency according to general wave behavior in the material?

Which wave type tends to have the shortest wavelength at a fixed frequency according to general wave behavior in the material?

• A. Surface
• B. Longitudinal
• C. Shear
• D. None of these

Answer: (A)

Wavelength at a fixed frequency is determined by the wave’s speed: longer speed means longer wavelength, shorter speed means shorter wavelength. In solids, Rayleigh (surface) waves travel the slowest because their energy is confined to the surface and they arise from a mix of longitudinal and shear motion along that boundary. Bulk compressional (longitudinal) waves travel fastest, and bulk shear waves are slower than compressional but faster than surface waves. So, for the same frequency, the surface wave has the smallest speed and thus the shortest wavelength. The other wave types carry longer wavelengths at the same frequency because their speeds are higher.

Wavelength at a fixed frequency is determined by the wave’s speed: longer speed means longer wavelength, shorter speed means shorter wavelength. In solids, Rayleigh (surface) waves travel the slowest because their energy is confined to the surface and they arise from a mix of longitudinal and shear motion along that boundary. Bulk compressional (longitudinal) waves travel fastest, and bulk shear waves are slower than compressional but faster than surface waves. So, for the same frequency, the surface wave has the smallest speed and thus the shortest wavelength. The other wave types carry longer wavelengths at the same frequency because their speeds are higher.