What does the Richter Magnitude Scale measure, and why are scales of this type used more frequently than intensity scales?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is The Richter Magnitude Scale measures earthquake magnitude, which is the total amount of energy released by an earthquake at its source. This is a measure of the amplitude of the largest seismic wave as recorded on a seismogram generalized and preferred by the media.

What Does the Richter Magnitude Scale Measure, and Why Are