GEOLOGY

EARTH SCIENCE

EARTHQUAKES

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
An earthquake’s magnitude is a measure of the ____
A
number of surface waves it produces
B
amount of shaking it produces
C
damage it causes
D
size of seismic waves it produces
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Magnitude is a measure of the amplitude (height) of the seismic waves an earthquake’s source produces as recorded by seismographs . Seismologist Charles F. Richter created an earthquake magnitude scale using the logarithm of the largest seismic wave’s amplitude to base 10.

Detailed explanation-2: -A seismograph is the primary earthquake measuring instrument. The seismograph produces a digital graphic recording of the ground motion caused by the seismic waves. The digital recording is called a seismogram. A network of worldwide seismographs detects and measures the strength and duration of the earthquake’s waves.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Richter magnitude of an earthquake is determined from the logarithm of the amplitude of waves recorded by seismographs. Adjustments are included for the variation in the distance between the various seismographs and the epicenter of the earthquakes. Sources/Usage: Public Domain.

Detailed explanation-4: -Earthquake magnitude is a measure of the “size, ” or amplitude, of the seismic waves generated by an earthquake source and recorded by seismographs. (The types and nature of these waves are described in the section Seismic waves.)

Detailed explanation-5: -Magnitude is related to the amount of seismic energy released at the hypocenter of the earthquake. It is based on the amplitude of the earthquake waves recorded on instruments which have a common calibration. The magnitude of an earthquake is thus represented by a single, instrumentally determined value.

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