Answer:Earthquakes are the shaking or trembling of the Earth's surface caused by the sudden release of energy from within the Earth. This energy is typically released along fault lines, which are zones where the Earth's crust is under stress and can fracture and move.
Seismic waves are the waves of energy that travel through the Earth's crust and cause the shaking and vibration during an earthquake. There are several types of seismic waves, including primary waves (P-waves), secondary waves (S-waves), and surface waves.
P-waves are longitudinal waves that travel through the Earth's interior and cause particles in the ground to vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation. P-waves are able to travel through both solids and liquids and are the fastest type of seismic wave.
S-waves are transverse waves that travel more slowly than P-waves and can only propagate through solid materials. S-waves cause particles in the ground to vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
Surface waves, which include Rayleigh waves and Love waves, travel along the Earth's surface and are responsible for much of the ground shaking and damage that occurs during earthquakes.
The study of earthquakes and seismic waves is known as seismology, and scientists use seismometers to measure and record the movement of the Earth's crust during earthquakes. This information can help to better understand the Earth's interior and the processes that cause earthquakes.
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