The table shows the location and magnitude of some notable earthquakes. How many times more energy was released by the earthquake in Mexico than by the earthquake in Afghanistan?%0D%0A%0D%0AEarthquake Location %09Date %09 Richter Scale Measure%0D%0A Italy%09 October 31, 2002%09 5.9%0D%0A El Salvador%09 February 13, 2001%09 6.6%0D%0A Afghanistan%09 May 30, 1998%09 6.9%0D%0A Mexico%09 January 22, 2003%09 7.6%0D%0A Peru%09 June 23, 2001%09 8.1%0D%0A(1 point)%0D%0AResponses%0D%0A%0D%0Aabout 42.36 times as much energy%0D%0Aabout 42.36 times as much energy%0D%0A%0D%0Aabout 0.70 times as much energy%0D%0Aabout 0.70 times as much energy%0D%0A%0D%0Aabout 5.01 times as much energy%0D%0Aabout 5.01 times as much energy%0D%0A%0D%0Aabout 21 times as much energy%0D%0Aabout 21 times as much energy
1 answer
The magnitude difference between two earthquakes can be calculated using the formula:
Magnitude Difference = 10^(M2 - M1)
Where M2 is the magnitude of earthquake 2 (Mexico) and M1 is the magnitude of earthquake 1 (Afghanistan).
Using the given data:
Magnitude difference = 10^(7.6 - 6.9) = 10^0.7 = 5.01
So, the earthquake in Mexico released about 5.01 times more energy than the earthquake in Afghanistan.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
about 5.01 times as much energy