+119 "What is the Richter Scale measurement for an earthquake that is 5 times as intense as an earthquake measuring 8.2 on the Richter Scale?"
I understand that the measurement of magnitude is exponential but I don't know how to apply that information and I don't have a clue as to how to go about solving this.
+129933 Not an expert on this....but...I think we can use this formula to find the result :
Magnitude = log 5 + 8.2 =
.699 + 8.2 ≈
8.9
Here's a website that goes into more detail :
http://www.sosmath.com/algebra/logs/log5/log56/log56.html
Here is the formula used by USGS(United States Geological Survey) to determine modern Magnitude of Eartquakes:
10^((1.5*M) + 4.8) / (4.184E15) =Energy Release in Megatons eqivalent of TNT. M=Magnitude.
10^((1.5*8.2 + 4.8) / (4.184E15)=~30 Megatons of TNT
10^((1.5*M + 4.8) / (4.184E15)=30*5, solve for M
M = 8.67, so:
8.67 - 8.2 =0.47 - difference in Magitude which will release 5 times as much as 8.2 Magnitude.
In other words, 8.67 Magnitude will release 5 times as much energy as 8.2 Magnitude.
Note: Wolfram/Alpha will give you the same answer if you input 8.67 Earthquake Manitude. See here:
https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Earthquake+magnitude+8.67
