Approximately how much more energy is released in an earthquake of Richter magnitude 6.5 than in a magnitude 5.5 earthquake?
A)3)2
B)32
C)320
D)3,200

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Richter scale is logarithmic, meaning each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in amplitude and roughly 31.6 times more energy release. Therefore, a 6.5 earthquake releases about 32 times more energy than a 5.5 earthquake.

Approximately How Much More Energy Is Released in an Earthquake