Question:
How does Ricther Scale relate to logarithm?
Replies:
The Richter Scale is a common logarithmic scale, which means that each unit
on the Richter scale represents a tenfold increase in energy released during
the earthquake. So, an earthquake rating a 7 on the Richter scale releases
10 times more energy than one rating a 6, and 100 times more than one rating
a 5.
Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois
The Richter Scale uses the amplitude of ground motion as a way of
ranking the earthquakes in terms of their magnitude, M.
The magnitude of an earthquake may be related to its frequency
of ocurrence per year via the following relation:
log N = k. bM
where N is the frequency, M is the magnitude and k and b are constants.
Log N is the value of the logarithm function for N.
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