What does the magnitude of an earthquake measure?

A the amount of energy released
b the number of aftershocks created
c the amount of damage it did
d the distance from the epicenter

1 answer

The magnitude of an earthquake measures the amount of energy released by the seismic activity. Therefore, the correct answer is A - the amount of energy released. Aftershocks, damage, and distance from the epicenter are all affected by the magnitude, but they are not what the magnitude measures directly.