Exploring logarithms and the richter magnitude scale. The magnitude of earthquakes as described on the richter scale is measured using a logarithmic scale. In working with these problems it is most important to remember that. By using a common rating scale, engineers can compare earthquake activity measured from. For example, the richter scale is an invented mathematical logarithmic tool that measures the magnitude of an earthquake.
Earthquakes and logarithmic scales logarithms and powers of 10. An earthquake that measures a 5 on the scale is ten times greater than that of a 4 value. I know that the richter scale is logarithmic, so the answer would be. Numeracy centre for teaching and learning academic practice. Folded rocks have been subjected to a plastic strain. This quiz and worksheet can help you assess your understanding of. Engineers often invent scales or systems to use as measurement tools. Devised in the 1930s by beno gutenberg and charles richter, the richter scale was logarithmic, making a recording of 7, for example, signify a disturbance with ground motion 10 times as large as a recording of 6. Magnitude of the richter scale activity teachengineering. History and applications logarithms are by far one of the most important mathematical discoveries to date. A logarithm is the inverse of the exponential function. Scientists use a type of logarithmic scale to ensure that they are able to measure both very small and very large. Find the intensity of an earthquake that measures 6.
Each increase in whole numbers represents a 10fold increase in ground shaking. Ask students to complete the richter scale worksheet by calculating the total number of. Measuring earthquakes lesson plan and worksheet teaching. A relationship has been discovered between the magnitude of earthquakes and their. Study how to convert graphs to logarithmic scale with this handy quiz and worksheet. Seismic waves ppt worksheet pdf waves, waves, waves quiz doc. Quickly insert a sheet of absorbent paper or material below the tap. An earthquake in the united states has an estimated magnitude of 3. The richter scale is a common method used to measure the intensity of. Early in the century the earthquake in san francisco registered 8. Use the information below and the richter nomograms to fill in the chart. Akshat rathi and david yanofsky for quartz explain in a lesson of the logarithmic scale and earthquake magnitude. The formula y logb x is said to be written in logarithmic form and x by is said to be written. A find the intensity of an earthquake that measures 6.
What was the magnitude of the earthquake in south american. Problem 1 the common earthquake richter scale is a measure of how much. In 1906, san francisco experienced an earthquake that measured 8. Logarithm practice problems natural logarithm problems pdf 1 2 3 related searches for logarithm word problems earthquake word problems. This scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake, which is the amount of energy released by it.
Apr 29, 2015 the threetenths difference doesnt seem like much, but the latter is actually an earthquake that exerts twice the energy of the former. In this lesson, children look at the two scales used to measure the. The richter scale is the best known scale for measuring the magnitude of earthquakes. The richter scale is a measurement that can be used to compare earthquake magnitudes based on the formula. It is a logarithmic scale so the power difference between numbers increases as the strength of the quake increases. Earthquakes from the link above, color in each state with the appropriate color from your key in order to represent how many earthquakes of magnitude 3. Logarithmic functions and applications college algebramath. Logarithmic functions and applications college algebra. Mathematical models will include polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions. The early earthquake was 16 times as intense as the later earthquake. An earthquake of magnitude 8 is times stronger than an earthquake of magnitude 5. Jul 07, 2019 use our richter scale activity to allow your students to get an appreciation of the logarithmic richter magnitudes. The threetenths difference doesnt seem like much, but the latter is actually an earthquake that exerts twice the energy of the former. Over the course of geological time, earthquakes, floods, and other natural events have helped to.
Locating earthquakes using latitude and longitude, tohoku 2011 fact file, earthquake crossword, earthquake vocabulary. Even though todays earthquake was estimated to be 2. Aug 01, 2012 buchanan high school teacher web site. You will be quizzed on how the richter scale measures an earthquakes magnitude. Developed into worksheet from following the source. B find the intensity of an earthquake the measures 3. These are distinguished from seismic intensity scales that categorize the intensity or severity of ground shaking quaking caused by an earthquake at a given location. Riverdale high school, oregon this onepage description provides a good background and explanation of the logarithmic scale used for measuring ph. The magnitude calculation depends on two parameters. Use your map to answer the questions on the back of the worksheet. Yes, i know the clothes are a bit outdated, but this video provides a great visual of the logarithmic scale, shows example problems being solved stepbystep, and talks about actual use of the richter scale. Specifically, a logarithm is the power to which a number the base must be raised to produce a given number. In an earlier section, we discussed radioactive decay the idea that radioactive isotopes change over time. The richter scale earth science prior module 1 elementary page 4 the richter scale measures the strength of an earthquake.
Hazards summary worksheet use this worksheet to summarize hazard description information and identify which hazards are most significant to. Discuss linear versus exponential growth and if students are ready, get into logs, either base ten or e. This reading comprehension worksheet teaches students about earthquakes. The earthquake in yunnan, china, on 26 nov 2003 was 0 times weaker than the 9.
Students learn about the types of seismic waves produced by earthquakes and how they move the earth. Exponential and logarithmic equations worksheet 2 solve each of the following. Richter and presented in his landmark 1935 paper, where he called it the magnitude scale. In the same year an earthquake in ecuador was four times as intense. The newcastle earthquake in 1989 had a magnitude of 5 on the. Apply the quotient rule or product rule accordingly to expand each logarithmic expression as a single logarithm. Elastic strain happens when an object is deformed, and then when the stress. Use our richter scale activity to allow your students to get an appreciation of the logarithmic richter magnitudes. The growth and decay may be that of a plant or a population, a crystalline structure or money in the bank. The formula y logb x is said to be written in logarithmic form and x by is said to be written in exponential form. Earthquakes practice questions and answers revised november. If x and b are positive numbers and b 6 1 then the logarithm of x to the base b is the power to which b must be raised to equal x. The same 1 unit increase in magnitude, however, corresponds to an increase of approximately 32 times the earthquake energy. In this lesson, children look at the two scales used to measure the severity of an earthquake the richter scale and the mercalli scale.
The definitions provided on the following page can be modified to meet local needs and methods. Students learn how engineers build shake tables that simulate the ground motions of the earth caused by seismic waves in order to test the seismic performance of buildings. A logarithmic scale or log scale is a way of displaying numerical data over a very wide range of values in a compact waytypically the largest numbers in the data are hundreds or even thousands of times larger than the smallest numbers. In this lesson, we will investigate the nature of the richter scale and the baseten function upon which it depends. The earthquake wave displacement amplitude increases by a factor of 10 for every 1 unit increase of the richter magnitude. Plot a graph of log t against log r using either logarithms to base 10 or natural. In june 2010, california experienced an earthquake. In other words, an earthquake of magnitude 8 is not twice as great as an earthquake of magnitude 4. If the pasta magnitude scale were like the earthquake magnitude scale this would be a pasta magnitude of 2.
Magnitudes are usually determined from measurements of an earthquakes seismic waves as recorded on a seismogram. You might also use our graph of richter magnitudes at. Defining an earthquake 10 earthquakesfema 159 an earthquake is a natural occurrence, like rain. You will be quizzed on how the richter scale measures an earthquake s magnitude. Apr 29, 2015 was the nepal earthquake twice as big as we thought. This was later revised and renamed the local magnitude scale, denoted as ml or m l. In the same year, another earthquake was recorded in south america that was four time stronger.
By definition, the logarithmic function is directly related to the exponential function. The magnitude, m, of an earthquake can be determined using the function m log i s e e aa aa aa. Plastic strain occurs when stress is applied to an object, and it becomes deformed. For every single increase on this scale, the magnitude is increased by a factor of 10. The richter scale earthquakes are measured on the richter scale, which is a base 10 logarithmic scale. It is a logarithmic scale, meaning that the numbers on the scale measure factors of 10. Not only because they help in the prediction of earthquakes, but they help with knowing how intense those earthquakes will be. What was the magnitude of this earthquake on the richter scale. The richter scale is based on seismograph readings measuring earth movement. The richter scale is a standard scale used to compare earthquakes. The design of this device was based on a logarithmic scale rather than a linear scale. By using a common rating scale, engineers can compare earthquake activity measured from everywhere on earth. A quake of lesser magnitude, usually one of a series, following a larger earthquake in the same area. Logarithmic functions and applications college algebramath modeling another common type of nonlinear function is the logarithmic function.
Earthquakes affect almost every part of the earth and like rain they can be either mild or catastrophic. In the same year, another earthquake was recorded that measured six time stronger on the richter scale. An instrument for automatically detecting and recording the intensity, direction, and duration of a movement of the gorund, especially of an earthquake. Related searches for logarithm word problems earthquake word problems. The magnitude scales for earthquakes are logarithmic scales. A seismic station located 60 km from the epicenter of an earthquake, recorded the maximum height of the swaves to be 50 mm. This is reported on a richter scale that increases by powers of ten. It is very important in solving problems related to growth and decay. The choice of unit generally indicates the type of quantity and the base of the. Was the nepal earthquake twice as big as we thought. The intensity of the earthquake in south america was 8.
Logarithmic scales are linear scales in x such as 1. A logarithmic unit is a unit that can be used to express a quantity physical or mathematical on a logarithmic scale, that is, as being proportional to the value of a logarithm function applied to the ratio of the quantity and a reference quantity of the same type. The richter scale also called the richter magnitude scale or richters magnitude scale is a measure of the strength of earthquakes, developed by charles f. The richter scale measures the intensity of an earthquake. Convert the logarithmic equation to an exponential equation.
Measuring earthquakes the richter and mercalli scales worksheet. Seismic magnitude scales are used to describe the overall strength or size of an earthquake. Earthquakes practice questions and answers revised. Free earthquake worksheets for use when learning all about. The amount or degree of strength per unit area or volume.
This site describes what the ph scale is and gives ph values of some substances. Earthquakes, richter scale, and logarithms continuous. Logarithms in earthquakes by omari leftwich on prezi. Earthquakes and logarithmic scales logarithms and powers. Earthquakes and logarithmic scales logarithms and powers of 10 the power of logarithms in 1935, charles richter established the richter scale for measuring earthquakes, defining the magnitude of an earthquake as m log 10 d, where d is the maximum horizontal movement in micrometers at a distance of 100 km from the epicenter. Scientists use a type of logarithmic scale to ensure that they are able to measure both. Charles richter developed the richter scale for measuring the. On the richter scale, the magnitude r of an earthquake with intensity i is measured by 10 0 log i r. Earthquake magnitude and the logarithmic scale flowingdata. A comprehensive range of earthquake worksheets to support 12 different earthquake activities to help learning all about earthquakes. Earthquakes and volcanoes sciencematters 1 richter scale lesson concept seismographs determine the magnitude of an earthquake by measuring its force and duration. Learn to expand a single logarithmic expression and write it as many individual parts or components, with this free pdf worksheet. California earthquakes and the richter scale yummy math.
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