Question

Im confused if im doing this right

Last week there was an earthquake that measured as a magnitude of 3.2 on the Richter scale. Today you hear on the radio that there was a second earthquake that was 27 times more intense than the first. What was the magnitude of the second earthquake on the Richter scale?

Ans:to get magmitude of the second i have to multiply 27 by first earthquake which is 3.2
27(3.2)=84

But i feel there is a way more to it,and its exponetial.

Answer 1

No, log scale
I answered this yesterday

http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1451681946

Answer 2

You multiply the 27 by the amplitude, not the log of the amplitude.
then take the log of the new bigger amplitude for the new Richter number.

Answer 3

here slowly
Richer number = 3.2
3.2 is log of amplitude A
log A = 3.2

10^logA = A = 10^3.2 = 10^3 * 10^.2
so A = 10^3 * 1.5848

Now Multiply THAT by your 27

B = 10^4 * 4.27921

log B = log 4 + log 4.27921
= 4.631
which is your new Richter #

Answer 4

Get the idea?
Richer # = log of amplitude.
so you take 27 times the antilog
and then take the log of that

Answer 5

Thank you so much damon!!