A seismograph is an instrument used to detect and record earthquakes. It is also known as a seismometer. It records the motion of the ground during a quake. The Richter scale is a numerical value used to measure the power or magnitude of earthquakes.
What is the difference between Richter scale?
| Richter magnitudes Description Earthquake effects | 10.0+ Epic Never recorded |
|---|
What is the difference between the Richter scale and the moment magnitude scale?
Richter Scale is mostly effective for regional earthquakes
no greater than M5
. Moment Magnitude is more effective for large earthquakes Moment Magnitude uses more variables to calculate the energy released using seismic moment. Seismic moment combines the seismic energy with offset on the fault and rigidity of rock.
What is the difference between a seismogram and seismograph?
The terms seismograph and seismometer are often used interchangeably; however, whereas both devices
may detect and measure seismic waves
, only a seismograph possesses the capacity to record the phenomena. A record produced by a seismograph on a display screen or paper printout is called a seismogram.
What are the main differences between Richter and Mercalli scales?
While the Mercalli scale describes the intensity of an earthquake based on its observed effects, the Richter scale describes
the earthquake’s magnitude by measuring the seismic waves that cause the earthquake
.
Why don’t we use the Richter scale anymore?
The Richter scale was
abandoned because it worked best for earthquakes in southern California
, and only those hitting within about 370 miles (600 kilometers) of seismometers. … The moment magnitude scale captures all the different seismic waves from an earthquake, giving a better idea of the shaking and possible damage.
What is the formula for the Richter scale?
A better measure of the size of an earthquake is the amount of energy released by the earthquake, which is related to the Richter Scale by the following equation:
Log E = 11.8 + 1.5 M
(where Log refers to the logarithm to the base 10, E is the energy released in ergs and M the Richter magnitude).
What are the disadvantages of the Richter scale?
Disadvantages of Richter Scale
Earthquakes can cause subsidence, or the lowering of the ground surface
. This can cause coastal areas to be permanently flooded. Lateral spreading can also occur, wherein sloping ground moves downhill, opening up cracks.
What is the max on the Richter scale?
Although
the Richter Scale has no upper limit
, the largest known shocks have had magnitudes in the 8.8 to 8.9 range. Recently, another scale called the moment magnitude scale has been devised for more precise study of great earthquakes. The Richter Scale is not used to express damage.
What does the P stand for in P wave?
Compressional waves are also called P-Waves, (P stands for
“primary”
) because they are always the first to arrive.
What is the atomic bomb equivalent to a 8.0 earthquake?
| Magnitude Energy in joules (J) TNT equiv. | 5.0 2.0 x 10 12 500 tons of TNT | 6.0 6.3 x 10 13 15 kilotons of TNT | 7.0 2.0 x 10 15 500 kilotons of TNT | 8.0 6.3 x 10 16 15 million tons of TNT |
|---|
Is an instrument used for measuring earthquake?
Seismographs
are instruments used to record the motion of the ground during an earthquake.
What do you call a person who studies earthquakes?
Seismologists
study earthquakes by looking at the damage that was caused and by using seismometers. A seismometer is an instrument that records the shaking of the Earth’s surface caused by seismic waves.
How are P and S waves different?
P waves are recorded earlier than S waves
, because they travel at a higher velocity. … P waves can travel through liquid and solids and gases, while S waves only travel through solids. Scientists use this information to help them determine the structure of Earth.
How many parts is the Richter scale divided into?
The scale is logarithmic and ranges from
0 to 10
; a tremor with a value of 2 can barely be felt and structural damage is likely from earthquakes greater than 6.
What is the Mercalli scale and what does it measure?
The Mercalli intensity scale (or more precisely the Modified Mercalli intensity scale) is
a scale to measure the intensity of earthquakes
. Unlike with the Richter scale, the Mercalli scale does not take into account energy of an earthquake directly.
