Final answer:
The point inside the Earth where energy is released is the focus, or hypocenter, of an earthquake. It's a result of thermal and radioactive decay processes occurring in Earth's core, contributing to geothermal energy and seismic activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The point inside the Earth where the energy release occurs is known as the focus or hypocenter of an earthquake. This is the exact point beneath the Earth's surface where stress is released, resulting in seismic waves that shake the ground. While the focus is the point inside the Earth, the directly above point on the Earth’s surface is known as the epicenter.
The interior of Earth contains significant thermal energy, where a portion is residual heat from the planet's formation and the rest comes from the decay of radioactive elements such as uranium (U-238), thorium (Th-232), and potassium (K-40). As these unstable isotopes decay, they release heat, contributing to the high temperatures in Earth's core. This energy is otherwise known as geothermal energy and it can be as high as 44 terawatts (TW) flowing through Earth's crust. Earth’s core transfers this thermal energy to the surface through convection, conduction, and radiation, influencing tectonic movements and potentially resulting in geological events like earthquakes.