Which term refers to vibrations that travel through the Earth carrying energy released during an earthquake?

The term that refers to vibrations traveling through the Earth and carrying energy released during an earthquake is seismic waves. When an earthquake occurs, it produces a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, which generates these waves. Seismic waves can be classified into two main types: primary (P) waves and secondary (S) waves. P waves are compressional waves that travel fastest and can move through both solid and liquid layers of the Earth, while S waves are shear waves that only travel through solids. Together, these waves are crucial for understanding the dynamics of earthquakes and are the primary means by which we detect and study seismic activity.

The other options, while they denote different types of waves or energy transfer, do not specifically describe the vibrations from earthquakes. Radiation refers to the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or particles; gravity waves are ripples in spacetime caused by certain gravitational interactions; and acoustic waves relate to sound waves traveling through a medium, which is distinct from the geological context of seismic waves. Thus, seismic waves are the correct choice as they specifically pertain to the context of earthquakes and the energy they release.