An earthquake is measured on the Richter scale. What units are used?
2006-07-08 20:56:31 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
It is a number that is entirely based on the distance in millimeters that the recording arm of a torsional Wood-Anderson seismometer moves in response to an earthquake. It is expressed as a logarithmic value and in actuality has no upper or lower limit. In practice it is often explained as being a scale between 0 and 9 for simplification.
All other types of seismometers and related measurements have to be calibrated to give a corrected reading in Richter scale, based differences of these instruments.
The nomogram (a graphic representation) is:
ML = log10A(mm) + (Distance correction factor)
The formula that Richter used that is represented by this nomogram is: (I quote)
ML = log10A(mm) + (Distance correction factor)
A is the amplitude, in millimeters, that the recording arm moves on a Wood-Anderson seismometer. The recording arm makes a mark on a roll of paper that can be measured later.
The distance factor is from a table in Richter's (1958) book "Elementary Seismology". The equation behind this nomogram, is:
M = log10(A(mm)) + 3log10(8 delta t (s)) - 2.92
From:
http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/class/100/magnitude.html
There is a graphic example of a seismograph on that page that shows how an Amplitude of 23 mm (movement of the arm) with a distance of about 220 km (actually measured in seconds difference between arrival of S and P waves) results in a Richter magnitude of 5.0.
It has no relation to the energy released by exploding TNT and examples that relate this are only intended to make the differences in the Richter scale comprehensible.
2006-07-09 06:19:56 · answer #1 · answered by carbonates 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
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What is the unit used in the Richter scale?
An earthquake is measured on the Richter scale. What units are used?
2015-08-18 22:42:53 · answer #2 · answered by Pia 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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The Richter Scale is based on an order of magnitudes, where each unit (starting at 0) is 10x more powerful than the unit before it. So a Magnitude 5.0 quake is 10 times more powerful than a Magnitude 4.0 quake.
2016-04-09 08:59:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just a logarithmic scale of unitless values of magnitude related to severity based on "the Richter Scale".
2006-07-08 21:00:33 · answer #4 · answered by snodrift777 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A logarithmic scale used to express the total amount of energy released by an earthquake. Its values typically fall between 0 and 9, with each increase of 1 representing a 10-fold increase in energy.
2006-07-08 21:01:14 · answer #5 · answered by sxa93 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure it's based on Kilograms of TNT
0 on the scale = 1 Kilogram
1 on the scale= 32 Kilograms
2 on the scale = 1000 Kilograms
2006-07-09 01:07:56 · answer #6 · answered by insideoutsock 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't have any.
It is a comparative scale, ie it measures the relative sizes of earthquakes. It is also logarithmic (base 10).
2006-07-08 21:05:40 · answer #7 · answered by Epidavros 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suppose each unit is a Richtier. Named after the inventor.
2006-07-08 21:15:46 · answer #8 · answered by Don S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont know but i felt a 3.1 come hit my house and that was a, "holy sh** what the hell was that?" on the tsololi scale
2006-07-08 21:40:51 · answer #9 · answered by tsololi_tsalagi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No units, its relative.
2006-07-08 21:11:36 · answer #10 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋