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To: AKA Elena

Wrong, each whole number (one point) is ten times stronger than the previous. A 5.0 in ten times stronger than a 4.0


293 posted on 07/29/2008 12:33:01 PM PDT by T Minus Four
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To: T Minus Four; AKA Elena; cogitator
T Minus Four wrote: "Wrong, each whole number (one point) is ten times stronger than the previous. A 5.0 in ten times stronger than a 4.0"

T Minus Four, that is not true although your comment is based upon a common misconception.

Magnitude is the logarithmic measurement of the amplitude of waves on a seismogram.

When comparing Magnitudes, you are comparing the measurement of amplitude of waves between the two earthquakes. Comparison of Magnitude is not a comparison of strength or energy of the two earthquakes.

It would be correct to say that a 5.0 Magnitude earthquake is ten times bigger than a 4.0 earthquake again, keeping in mind that it is the measured amplitude of waves which are being compared.

A 5.0 earthquake is actually 31.6 times stronger than a 4.0 earthquake. An earthquake's energy is the damaging factor.


602 posted on 07/29/2008 6:48:48 PM PDT by bd476
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