What is the logarithmic equation for the Richter scale?
Feb 20, 2010
in
Earthquake Questions
I need to solve a math question!!! Can anyone help me??
The question is: Determine the Ricter magnitude if the following energy was released by the earthquake. a) 2.5 mega joules. Please show all work.
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One comment
dogwood_lock on February 20, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Zero on the Richter Scale is 4.2 Megajoules. For every two points up (or down) on the scale, the energy is multiplied (or divided) by 1000.
The formula is R = (2/3) log ( E / 4.2 ) where E is the energy in Megajoules.
Since 2.5 MJ is less than 4.2 MJ, you’ll be going down on the scale. Your answer will be a negative number.