The Richter Scale is used for measuring the magnitude of earthquakes. the magnitude of an earthquake is, by deifnition, measured 100 kilometers from its originating point, and is given by the equation M = log(s/10^-4), where S is the "strength" of the earthquake, as determined by the shockwaves it sends through the ground. Earthquake strengths vary greatly from 0 in some cases to 800,000,000 or more in other cases which is why a logarithmic scale is used to measure their magnitudes. Part A One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded had a magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter Scale. i) Determine the strength of this earthquake. ii) What would be the magnitude of an earthquake four times weaker than this one? iii) How many times stronger was this earthquake than the magnitude 2 earthquake that stuck central New Jersey in 2012?
The Richter Scale is used for measuring the magnitude of earthquakes. the magnitude of an earthquake is, by deifnition, measured 100 kilometers from its originating point, and is given by the equation M = log(s/10^-4), where S is the "strength" of the earthquake, as determined by the shockwaves it sends through the ground. Earthquake strengths vary greatly from 0 in some cases to 800,000,000 or more in other cases which is why a logarithmic scale is used to measure their magnitudes.
Part A
One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded had a magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter Scale.
i) Determine the strength of this earthquake.
ii) What would be the magnitude of an earthquake four times weaker than this one?
iii) How many times stronger was this earthquake than the magnitude 2 earthquake that stuck central New Jersey in 2012?
Part B
Suppose a given earthquake is twice as strong as another earthquake. Determine the difference in magnitude of these earthquakes.
Part C
The largest manmade explosion was the test detonation of the Tsar Bomba hydrogen bomb. It was equivalent to about 50 million tons of TNT. It was similar in intensity to a magnitude 8.5 earthquake. The stronger earthquake ever recorded was the 1960 Valdivia earthquake than the Tsar Bomba? How much TNT was the earthquake equivalent to? Show your work.
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