How much larger is the shock wave of an earthquake that measures 7.5 on the Richter scale than one that measures 5.5 on the same scale?
A) 100 times larger
B) 2,000 times larger
C) 2 times larger
D) 5.5 times larger
E) 7.5 times larger

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Richter scale is logarithmic, meaning each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude and roughly 31.6 times more energy release. Therefore, an earthquake measuring 7.5 is 10^(7.5-5.5) = 10^2 = 100 times larger in terms of amplitude than one measuring 5.5.

How Much Larger Is the Shock Wave of an Earthquake