Why is a 7.0 earthquake ten times stronger than a 6.0 earthquake?

Answer 1

As it is with many science scale Logarithms are used. These are power of 10's. It allow us to talk about a large range of energy, concentrations, and many other things by using just a few numbers less than 10. It is easier to talk and write about a 5.9 earth quake instead of a 794,000 level of energy. Below is an example of the scale and how scienctists decided to explan the large range of earthquake energy by only using small values under 10. If you want more help just ask me.
Dave
1 = 10
2 = 100
3 = 1,000
4 = 10,000
5 = 100,000

5.1 = 126,000
5.2 = 158,000
5.3 = 199,000
5.4 = 251,000
5.5 = 316,000
5.6 = 398,000
5.7 = 501,000
5.8 = 631,000
5.9 = 794,000
6.0 = 1,000,000

6.1 = 1,259,000
6.2 = 1,585,000
6.3 = 1,995,000
6.4 = 2,512,000
6.5 = 3,162,000
6.6 = 3,981,000
6.7 = 5,012,000
6.8 = 6,310,000
6.9 = 7,943,000
7.0 = 10,000,000

richter scale: exponential each # = 10 x the previous #

Answer 2

That's the way the scale was set up. A 7 magnitude earthquake is 10multiplied by itself seven times. A magnitude 6 earthqauke is 10 times itself six times, therefore a 6 magnitude earthquake is stronger than a 7 magnitude

Answer 3

There are several earthquakes happening in the world. Some earthquake releases few tons equivalent of TNT ( A known type of gun powder) and in some other places the quake releases million tonnes of energy. Therefore it is difficult to express in direct number. Mr Charles Richter found a way to express the energy release in the logarithmic way. Most of the people get confused in this scale. But unfortunately the more meaning full measure of intensity in Mercalli scale is not in general use. Each increase in Richter scale there will be an increase of ten times in shaking recorded from same distance by the seismograph. But the energy release will be 32 times higher for each Richter scale. I am giving below the chart of energy release for each Richter scale. There is no upper limit in this scale. But the maximum so far recorded was 9.5 next to the one created Tsunami on 26th Dec 2004.Visit my slide show for energy release details . It is TNT equivalent.
My Community in Orkut
http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=26068261
Presentation slides
http://asia.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/quake

Answer 4

The richter scale works on an exponential scale. So a 3.0 quake makes a 1000 size vibration, while a 4.0 makes a 10,000 size vibration. It goes from 10^3 to 10^4

Answer 5

The 7.1 quake is 10 times greater than a 7.0 . A 7.2 is 100 times a 7.3 is 1000 times greater . 7.4 is 10,000 a 7.5 is 100,000 and so on . It is a log curve.

Answer 6

look at the graph scale 1 is a 10 of a meter 1x10=10

Answer 7

That's the way the Ricter Scale was set up. It is similar to analogues such as the decibel scale in physics and the pH scale in chemistry

Answer 8

Becasue it is a logrithmic scale...