Consider the following statements : 1. In a seismograph, P waves are recorded earlier than S waves. 2. In P waves, the individual particles vibrate to and fro in the direction of wave propagation whereas in S waves, the particles vibrate up and down at right angles to the direction of wave propagation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Option (c) is correct because P waves (Primary) are the fastest seismic waves and arrive first at a seismograph, while the description of P waves as longitudinal (to-and-fro) and S waves as transverse (perpendicular) is physically accurate. Option (a) is the most tempting wrong choice for candidates who recall the arrival sequence but are unsure of the specific particle motion, though both statements are standard geological facts. The core concept being tested is the physical characteristics and propagation behavior of seismic body waves.