Question

The Richter scale is a measure of the intensity of an earthquake. The energy E (in joules) released by the quake is related to the magnitude M on the Richter scale as follows.

E = 104.4101.5M

How much more energy is released by a magnitude 7.6 quake than a 5.6 quake?

Answer 1

E1 = 10^(4.4) * 10^(1.5*5.6);

E2 = 10^(4.4) * 10^(1.5*7.6);

E_diff = E2 - E1;

 

fprintf('%f more joules energy is released by a magnitude 7.6 quake than a 5.6 quake\n', E_diff)

 

6303263871357115.000000 more joules energy is released by a magnitude 7.6 quake than a 5.6 quake.

6303263871357115.000000 more joules energy is released by a magnitude 7.6 quake than a 5.6 quake.