Final answer:
Seismic waves follow curved paths inside the Earth due to refraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Seismic waves are waves of energy that travel through the Earth, often generated by natural phenomena like earthquakes or volcanic activity, or artificially through human activities such as explosions. These waves provide valuable information about the Earth's interior and are crucial in the field of seismology. Refraction of seismic waves occurs when these waves encounter a boundary between different materials, causing them to change speed and direction.
Seismic waves follow curved paths inside the Earth due to refraction. Refraction is the phenomenon in which waves change their path of propagation at the interface of two media with different densities. As seismic waves pass through different materials in the Earth's interior, the waves bend or refract, resulting in curved paths.