Suppose that in January there is a magnitude 4.5 earthquake hitting the East Coast of the United States. Six months later, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake hits the West Coast. How many times more intense was the West Coast quake than the East Coast quake?
A)2
B)10
C)100
D)1000

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The difference in magnitude between a 4.5 earthquake and a 6.5 earthquake is 2.0. However, earthquake magnitude is measured on a logarithmic scale, which means that each increase in magnitude represents a tenfold increase in intensity. Therefore, the West Coast quake was 100 times (10^2) more intense than the East Coast quake.

Suppose That in January There Is a Magnitude 4