Final answer:
Surface waves on water are a combination of transverse and longitudinal waves, causing particles within the wave to move in circular or elliptical patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The motion of particles in a surface wave, such as those observed on water, is a combination of transverse and longitudinal waves. In a transverse wave, particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, as seen in waves on strings or in electromagnetic waves like visible light. On the other hand, in a longitudinal wave, particles move parallel to the wave's direction of travel, which is characteristic of sound waves in fluids. Surface waves on water are more complex because they involve both up and down motion (transverse) and back and forth motion (longitudinal), which can cause objects on the surface to exhibit a circular or elliptical motion.