Understanding the Richter Scale

Who was Charles Richter and what did he develop in 1935?

• An American seismologist who developed the Richter Scale

• A British geologist who discovered tectonic plates

• A German engineer who created the earthquake alarm

• A French physicist who invented the seismometer

What does it mean when we say the Richter Scale is logarithmic?

• Each step on the scale is ten times stronger than the previous

• Each step on the scale is half as strong as the previous

• Each step on the scale is five times stronger than the previous

• Each step on the scale is twice as strong as the previous

How much stronger is a magnitude 7 earthquake compared to a magnitude 5 earthquake?

• 10 times stronger

• 100 times stronger

• 1000 times stronger

• 50 times stronger

What is the effect of a magnitude 5 earthquake?

• Causes buildings to be displaced from foundations

• Only detected by seismometers

• Causes hanging objects to shake

• Causes furniture to move and plaster to fall

What happens during a magnitude 10 earthquake?

• Bridges are destroyed and poorly built buildings are flattened

• Almost total destruction with large chasms opening in the ground

• Buildings are displaced from their foundations

• Seismometers are unable to detect it