When an earthquake occurs, the release of energy typically results in the generation of seismic waves, which are vibrations that propagate through the Earth's crust. These seismic waves primarily travel as mechanical vibrations through solid rock, and they are responsible for the shaking and destruction associated with earthquakes.
While seismic waves can cause the ground to shake and generate vibrations that can be felt by humans, they do not generally produce sounds that can be heard by our ears. This is because the frequency range of seismic waves is typically much lower than what our auditory system can detect.
Seismic waves are characterized by low frequencies, usually below the threshold of human hearing. The primary types of seismic waves, called P-waves (primary waves) and S-waves (secondary waves), travel through the Earth, but they do not produce audible sounds in the conventional sense.
However, it's worth noting that during large and intense earthquakes, there may be associated sounds caused by the movement of objects, collapsing buildings, or other factors. These sounds are secondary effects resulting from the earthquake rather than directly from the seismic waves themselves.
In summary, while you may not directly hear the seismic waves during an earthquake, you can feel the ground shaking and potentially hear sounds caused by the resulting movement and destruction.