The largest earthquake historically recorded in the New York City metropolitan r

Question

The largest earthquake historically recorded in the New York City metropolitan region had a Richter magnitude of around 5.0. In March of 2011, there was an earthquake of Richter magnitude of around 9.0 in Japan.

a) Reviewing the logarithmic nature of earthquake magnitude, how much does the energy released by an earthquake go up as you increase the magnitude number? (note - I am asking about energy, not amplitude)

b) Using your answer from a), home much more energetic is a magnitude 9 earthquake than a magnitude 5? Please include the work that you used to come up with your answer.

Explanation / Answer

a) The relation is logarithmic, so if the magitude increases by 1 the Energy released increases by 10 times.

10 x / 10 x-1 = 10 times

b) Since the relation is logarithmic.

10 9 / 10 5 = 10000

Hence the Earthquake in Japan is 10000 times stronger than earthquake in Newyork city.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse T
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.