How much more energy is released in a magnitude 7 earthquake than in a magnitude 6 earthquake?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The energy released by an earthquake increases logarithmically with the magnitude. More specifically, each increment of one magnitude unit represents a tenfold increase in the amplitude of ground motion and a 32-fold increase in energy released. Therefore, a magnitude 7 earthquake releases approximately 32 times more energy than a magnitude 6 earthquake.

How Much More Energy Is Released in a Magnitude 7