Earthquake A gave a reading of 5 on the Richter scale, and earthquake B gave a reading of 8 on the Richter scale. Which earthquake was stronger, and how many times stronger was it?(1 point)

Question

Responses

Earthquake A is 1,000 times stronger because it is 3 higher on the Richter scale.
Earthquake A is 1,000 times stronger because it is 3 higher on the Richter scale.

Earthquake B is 30 times stronger because it is 3 higher on the Richter scale.
Earthquake B is 30 times stronger because it is 3 higher on the Richter scale.

Earthquake B is 1,000 times stronger because it is 3 higher on the Richter scale.
Earthquake B is 1,000 times stronger because it is 3 higher on the Richter scale.

Earthquake A is 30 times stronger because it is 3 higher on the Richter scale.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

Earthquake B is 1,000 times stronger because it is 3 higher on the Richter scale.

On the Richter scale, each whole number increase (like from 5 to 6, or from 6 to 7) represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude and roughly 31.6 times more energy release. Therefore, a difference of 3 on the Richter scale (from 5 to 8) means the earthquake B is approximately \(10^3 = 1,000\) times stronger than earthquake A.