Question

The intensity of an earthquake wave passing through the Earth is measured to be at a distance of 54 km from the source. (a) What was its intensity when it passed a point only 1.0 km from the source

Answer 1

Answer:

Intensity of an earthquake (passes 1 km) = 8,748 × 10⁶

Explanation:

Given:

Distance (r1) = 54 km

Distance (r2) = 1 Km

Note:

Intensity of an earthquake with 54 km distance is 3.0 × 10⁶ J/m²s is not given.

So,

Intensity of an earthquake with 54 km distance (I₁) = 3.0 × 10⁶ J/m²s

Find:

Intensity when it passed a point only 1.0 km .

Computation:

Intensity of an earthquake = (r1 / r2)² (I₁)

Intensity of an earthquake (passes 1 km) = (54 / 1)²(3.0 × 10⁶)

Intensity of an earthquake (passes 1 km) = (54)²(3.0 × 10⁶)

Intensity of an earthquake (passes 1 km) = 8,748 × 10⁶