Earthquakes: Magnitude

What are the strongest earthquakes ever detected?

1964 Alaska: 9.2 2004 Sumatra 9.3 1960 Chile 9.5

How much more energy does a magnitude 5 earthquake have over a magnitude 2?

32 X 32 X 32 the energy

How much more energy does a magnitude 5 earthquake have over a magnitude 3?

32 X 32 the energy

How much more energy does a magnitude 5 earthquake have over a magnitude 4?

32 times the energy

Magnitude

A measure of the amount of energy released by an earthquake. There is no upper limit

Richter scale

A numeral scale of magnitudes

How do scientists predict where earthquakes will happen in the future?

If large earthquakes have happened in the past, they are more likely to occur again in the future.

What are the cons of the Richter scale?

Instruments are required

What are the pros of the Richter scale?

It is quantitative It is objective

What can be said about small vs. large earthquakes?

Small earthquakes occur more often than do large earthquakes