Final answer:
The fastest seismic wave is the P-wave, which travels between 4 to 7 km/s and is capable of moving through both solid and liquid materials. P-waves arrive before S-waves and surface waves, which can be more damaging despite being slower. Hence, the correct answer is option (c).
Step-by-step explanation:
The seismic wave that is the fastest among the options provided is the P-wave (compressional or pressure wave). P-waves travel through materials by compression and decompression, similar to sound waves, and are capable of moving through both solid and liquid substances in the Earth.
Characterized as longitudinal waves, P-waves have a higher velocity in more rigid materials such as granite and can achieve speeds between 4 to 7 km/s, which generally exceeds that of S-waves, Love waves, Rayleigh waves, and other types of surface waves. S-waves (shear or secondary waves) and surface waves follow P-waves in arrival but can be more damaging when they do arrive.
S-waves have components that move perpendicular to the direction of wave travel and can only move through solids, which limits their speed compared to P-waves. While surface waves tend to be slower, they can be the most destructive due to their high amplitude and longer duration as they travel along Earth's crust.