The magnitude of earthquake 1 is 3.7, and the magnitude of earthquake 2 is 5.6. How do their intensities compare?
A) Earthquake 1 is 79.43 times as intense as earthquake 2.
B) Earthquake 1 is 1.9 times as intense as earthquake 2.
C) Earthquake 2 is 1.9 times as intense as earthquake 1.
D) Earthquake 2 is 79.43 times as intense as earthquake 1.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The intensity of an earthquake is determined by the Richter scale, which is logarithmic. This means that for each whole number increase in magnitude, the intensity of an earthquake becomes 10 times greater. The difference in magnitude between the two earthquakes is 5.6 - 3.7 = 1.9. Therefore, the intensity of earthquake 2 is $10^{1.9}$ or approximately 79.43 times greater than the intensity of earthquake 1.

The Magnitude of Earthquake 1 Is 3