QUESTION
An earthquake off the coast of British Columiba measured 4.2 on the Richter Scale. If an
earthquake occured in Mexico that was 1500 times more powerful than the BC quake, what
was its Richter scale reading?
Answer
MMX= 7.376 Richter scale reading in Mexico
Explanation
Let MBC = 4.2 Richter scale reading
MMx = Richter scale reading in Mexico
Required :
MMX =?
Solution:
MBC= log(IBC/S) = 4.2
MMX= log(IMX/S) ; IMX = 1500IBC
= log (1500IBC/S)
= log 1500IBC - log S
= log 1500 + (log IBC - log S )
= log 1500 + log IBC/log S
= log 1500 + 4.2
= 3.176 + 4.2
MMX= 7.376
An earthquake off the coast of British Columiba measured 4.2 on the Richter Scale. If an
earthquake occured in Mexico that was 1500 times more powerful than the BC quake, what
was its Richter scale reading?
Answer
MMX= 7.376 Richter scale reading in Mexico
Explanation
Let MBC = 4.2 Richter scale reading
MMx = Richter scale reading in Mexico
Required :
MMX =?
Solution:
MBC= log(IBC/S) = 4.2
MMX= log(IMX/S) ; IMX = 1500IBC
= log (1500IBC/S)
= log 1500IBC - log S
= log 1500 + (log IBC - log S )
= log 1500 + log IBC/log S
= log 1500 + 4.2
= 3.176 + 4.2
MMX= 7.376
