The magnitude of earthquake 1 is 8.6.Earthquake 2 is half as intense as earthquake 1.What is the magnitude of earthquake 2? Round your answer to 1 decimal place.
A) 7.7
B) 8.3
C) 4.3
D) 5.1

Question

The magnitude of earthquake 1 is 8.6.Earthquake 2 is half as intense as earthquake 1.What is the magnitude of earthquake 2? Round your answer to 1 decimal place. ​
A) 7.7
B) 8.3
C) 4.3
D) 5.1

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Richter scale is logarithmic, meaning each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude and roughly 31.6 times more energy release. If earthquake 2 is half as intense, its magnitude is calculated as 8.6 - log(2) ≈ 8.3.

The Magnitude of Earthquake 1 Is 8