what is measured in the richter scale?

Answer 1

Richter magnitude test scale (or more correctly local magnitude ML scale) assigns a single number to quantify the size of an earthquake. It is a base-10 logarithmic scale obtained by calculating the logarithm of the combined horizontal amplitude of the largest displacement from zero on a seismometer output. Measurements have no limits and can be either positive or negative.

You could get more information from the link below...

Answer 2

A number characterizing the relative size of an earthquake is called the magnitude. And the magnitude is based on the measurement of motion recorded by a seismograph. The seismograph is a graph of P and S waves which are measured seismic waves where S waves are for the secondary wave, or shear wave, and is the one that shakes the ground back and forth. The P wave is the 1st or primary wave and is the body of the earthquake as measured. A seismograph is the graph measured on a seismometer, and the P and S waves are the motions or magnitudes that are measured. The seismometer is a recording device used to detect adn record earthquakes.

Several scales have been developed to define the measure of the seismograph from a seismometer. The most commonly used scale is a Magnitude ML, commonly referre as "Richter magitude".

So, the richter scale actually measures the motions, or P and S waves of an earthquake, by defining the earthquakes relative size with respect to to the mass transformed into an electrical voltage that is then recorded on paper, magnetic tape, or other medium. And the record is proportional to the motion of the seismometer mass relative to the earth, but is mathmematically converted to a record of the absolute motion of the ground.

Answer 3

Richter scale was developed in the year 1935 by one Mr. Charles Richter in Pasadena University with his friends. It is only a measuring method of energy released during earthquakes. There are several methods like measuring surface wave, body wave. Moment magnitudes. Each one is useful for different situation. Seismometer records the arrival time of different waves in a digital or graphical format and the amplitude. We can use these data’s to calculate Richter scale magnitude. But the result even though it should not vary for a same earthquake measured in different places it practically varies. The magnitude of earthquake created Tsunami at Sumatra on 26th Dec 2004 was reported by several persons as from 7.7 to at last it was reported as 9.3 in Richter scale after 3 months only. Unfortunately the more meaning full Marcalli scale is not in wide use. This scale will differ from place to place according the damage and intensity felt by the people. The Richter scale uses the maximum amplitude recorded in the seismograph machine and the distance to calculate the energy released. This is an open ended scale. There is no upper limit for Richter scale. The highest ever recoded is 9.5 only in Chili in the year 1960.The shaking will be ten times more for each Richter scale and the energy release is 32 times more for each Richter scale. The shaking will be less as the distance increases from epicenter in inverse proportion . You can visit my slide show to gain more knowledge on this subject. The energy release given in my slide show related to each Richter scale is in TNT equivalent (A type of gun powder).
http://asia.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/quake

Answer 4

Nothing. Seismologists now use the Moment Magnitude Scale.
Newspapaers still report earthquakes using the Richter Scale though and what everyone else said about it is true.

Answer 5

nicely both yet they don't look to be somewhat similar. A seismograph is an device that measures the quantity of shaking at even with position it truly is. by itself it may't tell a lot about the flexibility of an earthquake because it truly is measurements are stricken by its distance from the epicenter. The farther away the earthquake, the weaker the length. The Richter scale is a gadget for estimating the flexibility of an earthquake in accordance to various different aspects. one way that's achieved is to analyze the measurements of various different seismographs that are positioned a unique factors around the earth. by noting the time that the signal reaches each and each and every device and the straightforward ability of each and every signal geologists can detect the epicenter and then calculate the flexibility of the earthquake depending length of each and every signal and the area to each and each and every seismograph. So in a way the seismograph is like the yardstick and the Richter scale is like the instruments the yardstick is calibrated in alongside with inches. The Richter importance of an earthquake is likewise from time to time envisioned by examining the aftereffects. that's significant in determining the flexibility of an earthquake that befell before seismographs were invented.

Answer 6

Earthquakes

Answer 7

How strong an earthquake is. It rates from 1 to 10

Answer 8

Magnitude of Earthhquakes.. It is a logarithmic scale..

Answer 9

the maximum amplitude of a recording on a Wood-Anderson torsion seismometer

Answer 10

the magnitude of earthquakes (: