How is the magnitude of an earthquake determined ?

Correct option is A

The magnitude of an earthquake is determined using the Richter Scale, which measures the energy released during the quake.

Information Booster:

1. The Richter Scale assigns a single number to quantify the amount of seismic energy released.
2. It is a logarithmic scale, meaning each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in amplitude and roughly 32 times more energy release.
3. The scale was developed by Charles F. Richter in 1935.
4. Modern seismologists now use the Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw), which is more accurate for large earthquakes but often referred to as the Richter Scale for simplicity.

Additional Knowledge:

• Seismograph: An instrument that records the motion of the ground caused by seismic waves.
• Mercalli Scale: Measures the intensity or effects of an earthquake based on observations (qualitative scale).
• Igneous Scale: No such scale exists; it is unrelated to earthquakes.

Key Points to Remember:

• Earthquake magnitude quantifies the seismic energy released.
• The Richter Scale is not effective for earthquakes with magnitudes above 7; hence, Mw is preferred.