Ripples are small waves or undulations that occur on the surface of a liquid, typically water. They are created when an object disturbs the surface, such as when a stone is thrown into a pond. The disturbance causes energy to spread outward in circular patterns, resulting in a series of concentric waves that gradually diminish in size as they move away from the source. In physics, ripples can be described as a form of wave motion, similar to sound waves or light waves. The study of ripples can help scientists understand various phenomena, including oceanography, acoustics, and even the behavior of particles in quantum mechanics.