Paper 1 · People, Development and Environment
Each increase of one unit on the Richter scale represents a tenfold increase in the amplitude, but the energy released rises by about 31.6 times. Comparing earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 and 5.0, how many times more energy is released by the 5.0 earthquake?
A10 times
B100 times
C1.25 times
DAbout 31 times ✓ Correct
Correct answer: (D) About 31 times — The 5.0 earthquake releases about 31 times more energy, so that is the answer.
Explanation
★The 5.0 earthquake releases about 31 times more energy, so that is the answer.
★A one-unit rise on the Richter scale multiplies the amplitude ten times.
★But the energy released rises much more, by about 31.6 times per unit.
★So a 5.0 quake releases about 31 times the energy of a 4.0 quake.
★The ten and hundred figures refer to amplitude, not energy.
★So the answer is about 31 times.
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