Short Answer
The process of calculating the magnitude of an earthquake involves understanding the intensity and standard magnitude, setting up the relationship between them (where intensity is 10 times the standard), and applying the logarithmic formula to find the magnitude. This leads to the conclusion that in this scenario, the earthquake’s magnitude can be computed as log(10).
Step 1: Understand Intensity and Magnitude
First, recognize the terms involved in earthquake measurement. The intensity of an earthquake, denoted by I, is determined based on its wave amplitude. The standard magnitude for comparing earthquakes is represented by S. Understanding these fundamental concepts is crucial for the calculations that follow.
Step 2: Set Up the Relationship
To evaluate the magnitude M of an earthquake that has an intensity 10 times greater than a standard earthquake, you can use the equation:
- I = 10S (indicating the intensity is 10 times that of standard).
- This relationship sets the stage for using logarithms to find the magnitude.
Step 3: Calculate the Magnitude
Now, use the formula for calculating the magnitude:
- M = log(I/S)
- Substituting I from step 2, you get M = log(10S/S).
- This simplifies to M = log(10), which means that the magnitude of the earthquake in this scenario can be computed clearly.