I'm trying to complete my schoolwork and I'm stumped on a question.
An earthquake with a magnitude M measures 5.2 on the Richter Scale. How much energy does the earthquake release?
Use the formula M=2/3log(E/10^11.8)
Solve for M:
5.2 = 2/3 log(1.58489×10^-12 M)
5.2 = 2/3 log(1.58489×10^-12 M) is equivalent to 2/3 log(1.58489×10^-12 M) = 5.2:
2/3 log(1.58489×10^-12 M) = 5.2
Multiply both sides by 3/2:
log(1.58489×10^-12 M) = 7.8
Cancel logarithms by taking exp of both sides:
1.58489×10^-12 M = 2440.6
Divide both sides by 1.58489×10^-12:
Answer: |
| M = 1,539,915,742,735,065 or 1.54 X 10^15 Joules-Total energy release.
1 Megaton H-bomb releases: 4.2 X 10^15 Joules. So, a 5.2 M earthquake releases [1.54 / 4.2]=~1/3 as much as 1 Megaton H-bomb.
Solve for M:
5.2 = 2/3 log(1.58489×10^-12 M)
5.2 = 2/3 log(1.58489×10^-12 M) is equivalent to 2/3 log(1.58489×10^-12 M) = 5.2:
2/3 log(1.58489×10^-12 M) = 5.2
Multiply both sides by 3/2:
log(1.58489×10^-12 M) = 7.8
Cancel logarithms by taking exp of both sides:
1.58489×10^-12 M = 2440.6
Divide both sides by 1.58489×10^-12:
Answer: |
| M = 1,539,915,742,735,065 or 1.54 X 10^15 Joules-Total energy release.
1 Megaton H-bomb releases: 4.2 X 10^15 Joules. So, a 5.2 M earthquake releases [1.54 / 4.2]=~1/3 as much as 1 Megaton H-bomb.
