Rayleigh Waves are also known as?

Rayleigh Waves are known as Surface Waves because they travel along the surface of a medium, such as the surface of a solid material. These waves are characterized by an elliptical motion of particles as the wave passes, which leads to a specific type of energy propagation that is primarily confined to the surface.

Surface Waves, including Rayleigh Waves, are significant in various fields, particularly in seismic studies and nondestructive testing, as they can reveal information about surface flaws and structural integrity. They tend to have slower propagation speeds compared to body waves (such as P and S waves) but can carry substantial energy, which makes them particularly effective for detecting surface-breaking cracks or defects.

The other options refer to different types of wave behavior. Compression Waves, for instance, refer to longitudinal waves where particles move parallel to the direction of wave propagation, which is not the case with Rayleigh Waves. Longitudinal Waves are specifically different when describing particle motion, while Mechanical Waves encompass both surface and body waves, but do not specifically refer to the unique behaviors of Rayleigh Waves.