Comments on: What is the logarithmic equation for the Richter scale? http://earthquakequestions.com/what-is-the-logarithmic-equation-for-the-richter-scale.htm Everything You Want To Know About Earthquakes Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:45:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: dogwood_lock http://earthquakequestions.com/what-is-the-logarithmic-equation-for-the-richter-scale.htm/comment-page-1#comment-12889 dogwood_lock Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:02:55 +0000 http://earthquakequestions.com/what-is-the-logarithmic-equation-for-the-richter-scale.htm#comment-12889 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. 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.

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