Question 429176
If an earthquake has
an intensity of x, its magnitude, as computed by the
Richter scale, is given by R(x)= log x/io , where I is
the intensity of a small, measurable earthquake.
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(a) On July 26, 1963, an earthquake in Yugoslavia
had a magnitude of 6.0 on the Richter scale, and
on August 19, 1977, an earthquake in Indonesia
measured 8.0. Find the intensity x for each of
these earthquakes if Io = 1
Yugo Quake: 6 = log(x/1)
6 = log(x)
x = 10^6
x = 1,000,000
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Indo Quake: 8 = log(x/1)
8 = log(x)
x = 10*8
x = 100,000,000
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(b) How many times more intense was the Indonesian
earthquake than the Yugoslavian earthquake?
Ans: A factor of 100
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Cheers,
Stan H.