Answer:
The intensity of the earthquake in Chile was about 16 times the intensity of the earthquake in Haiti.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given:
magnitude of earthquake in Chile = 8.2
magnitude of earthquake in Haiti = 7.0
To find:
Compare the intensities of the two earthquakes
Solution:
The magnitude R of earthquake is measured by R = log I
R is basically the magnitude on Richter scale
I is the intensity of shock wave
For Chile:
given magnitude R of earthquake in Chile = 8.2
R = log I
8.2 = log I
We know that:
is equivalent to:
8.2 = log I becomes:
So the intensity of the earthquake in Chile:
For Haiti:
R = log I
7.0 = log I
We know that:
is equivalent to:
7.0 = log I becomes:
So the intensity of the earthquake in Haiti:
Compare the two intensities :
=
=
= 15.848932
Round to the nearest whole number:
16
Hence former earthquake was 16 times as intense as the latter earthquake.
Another way to compare intensities:
Find the ratio of the intensities i.e.
-
= 8.2 - 7.0
= 1.2
Convert this logarithmic equation to an exponential equation
= 1.2
=
Hence
= 16