The Richter Scale

The Richter Scale is a way to measure the energy released by an earthquake. It assigns a number, called a magnitude, to quantify the earthquake's size. The scale is logarithmic, meaning each whole number increase represents about a tenfold increase in amplitude of seismic waves and roughly 31.6 times more energy released. For example, a 5.0 magnitude quake is ten times more powerful than a 4.0. The Richter Scale helps scientists compare earthquakes and assess their potential impact, although modern seismology often uses more advanced scales for detailed measurement.