Concept: Seismic waves are energy waves generated by earthquakes. They are mainly classified into body waves and surface waves:
- Body waves: Travel through the Earth's interior (P-waves and S-waves).
- Surface waves: Travel along the Earth's surface (Love and Rayleigh waves).
- P-waves (Primary waves): Compressional waves, fastest, travel through solids, liquids, and gases.
- S-waves (Secondary waves): Shear waves, slower than P-waves, travel only through solids.
- Love and Rayleigh waves: Surface waves, slower but cause maximum damage.
Step 1:Identify the fastest seismic wave.
P-waves are the fastest seismic waves and are the first to be recorded by seismographs.
Step 2:Check the medium of propagation.
P-waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases, whereas S-waves cannot travel through liquids.
Step 3:Select the correct answer.
Thus, the fastest wave that travels through both solid and liquid media is the Primary (P) wave.