To which kind of waves does minimal reflection occur when traveling around gradual curves?

• A. Transverse waves
• B. Surface waves
• C. Shear waves
• D. Longitudinal waves

Answer: (B)

Surface waves, which propagate along the boundary of a solid (Rayleigh waves), stay concentrated near the surface and are guided by the boundary itself. When the path curves gradually, this boundary-guided energy can follow the contour with little disturbance, so there’s less back reflection. In contrast, bulk waves like longitudinal (compressional) and shear waves travel through the interior and are more prone to reflection or mode conversion when the path bends, since they don’t stay confined to the surface and must contend with changes in impedance deeper inside. So, the minimal reflection around gradual curves is a characteristic of surface waves.