Question

1. a major media outlet uses the richter magnitude scale to report the size of earthquakes. the richter scale uses a number between 1 and 10 to signify the relative power of an earthquake. the scale is logarithmic, in that the magnitude of the earthquakes increases exponentially by a multiple of 10 with each single-digit increase in the scale. for instance, and earthquake that is a 3 on the richter scale will be 10 times as powerful as one that is a 2. in a recent earthquake, the initial earthquake measured a 7 on the richter scale. it had an aftershock that was a 5 on the richter scale. how much more powerful was the initial earthquake compared to the aftershock?

a. 10,000,000
b. 100,000
c. 100
d. 20
e. 10

Explanation:

Step1: Understand Richter Scale multiplier

Each 1-point increase = 10x power.

Step2: Find magnitude difference

Difference = $7 - 5 = 2$

Step3: Calculate total power ratio

Ratio = $10^2 = 100$

Answer:

C. 100