Why is a 7.0 earthquake 10 times stronger then a 6.0?
2007-01-27 08:54:44 · 6 answers · asked by Kass 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
It is because the Richter scale is logarithmic.
As a side note, for each integer, about 32 times more energy is released.
2007-01-27 12:01:22 · answer #1 · answered by ixfd64 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What do you mean by "stronger"? The Richer scale is a (base 10) logarithmic scale based on AMPLITUDE of the seismic waves. That means that a 7.0 earthquake has wave amplitude that is 10 times that of a 6.0. However, the ENERGY released is not the same; it is approximately a factor of 3 between magnitude levels. The destructive power is even less related, since that depends as well on ground conditions at the site and construction used in structures.
2007-01-27 17:24:27 · answer #2 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Its the richter scale, its just the system they decided on. I guess because the sizes between earthquakes can be so great, from a liny tremor to one that can destroy cities.
2007-01-27 17:02:41 · answer #3 · answered by callum828 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of the scale that the geologists measure on...the richter scale.
2007-01-27 17:02:49 · answer #4 · answered by splashingdreams 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Richter's scale is logarithmic.
The same is the decibel scale.
Th
2007-01-27 17:50:08 · answer #5 · answered by Thermo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmmm....maybe because there is point 1 through point 9 in between them?
2007-01-27 17:00:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋