Problema Solution

the amount of energy E, in ergs, that an earthquake releases is related to its Richer scale magnitude M by the equation log E=11.8+1.5M. The San fernando valley earthquake of 1994 measured 6.6 on the Richer scale. How much energy did this earthquake release?

Answer provided by our tutors

The San Fernando valley earthquake of 1994 measured 6.6 on the Richer scale means:


M = 6.6


plug the value for M into E=11.8+1.5M:


E=11.8+1.5*6.6


E =21.7 ergs


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this earthquake released 21.7 ergs of energy.