Question

What are sesmic waves?

Answer 1

Seismic waves are the waves of energy caused by the sudden breaking of rock within the earth or an explosion. They are the energy that travels through the earth and is recorded on seismographs.

Answer 2

earthquake produces three kinds of waves  
1 P waves ,  2  S-waves  ,  3  Surface waves...

1  P waves :  first waves to arrive   also called sound.
2  S-waves  :  second waves to arrive  traveling at 2.5–4 km/sec. their side-to-side motion is what causes the most damage to structures.
3 Surface waves : travel around the whole earth from large eathquakes many times before they become too small to record on seismographs..........