Final answer:
P-waves, or pressure waves, are the type of earthquake waves that can travel through both liquids and solids, unlike S-waves which can only travel through solids.(Option a)
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of earthquake wave that can travel through both liquids and solids is the P-wave, or pressure wave. P-waves are longitudinal waves that compress and expand material as they pass through, allowing them to move through both solid rock and fluid layers of Earth's interior.
In contrast, S-waves, or shear waves, are transverse waves that can only move through solids, as they require the material to be rigid enough to support their side-to-side motion. This difference in the ability to travel through various states of matter is crucial in geophysics and helps scientists understand more about Earth's inner structure.