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Q91 (CDS-II/2025) Geography › World Physical Geography › Seismology and volcanism Answer Verified

Which of the following statements with reference to Richter scale is/are correct ? 1. It is the intensity scale of an earthquake. 2. Richter indicates the amount of energy released during the earthquake. Select the answer using the code given below :

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: B
Explanation

The Richter scale is a magnitude scale, not an intensity scale [1]. Magnitude measures the size or strength of an earthquake based on the energy released at its source, whereas intensity refers to the visible damage and effects observed on the surface [4]. The intensity of an earthquake is typically measured using the Modified Mercalli Scale, which ranges from 1 to 12 [1]. Statement 1 is therefore incorrect. Statement 2 is correct because the Richter scale specifically relates to the amount of energy released during a seismic event [1]. It is a logarithmic scale where each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in measured wave amplitude and approximately a 32-fold increase in the actual energy released [2]. While modern seismologists often use the Moment Magnitude Scale for larger events, the Richter scale remains the foundational magnitude scale for measuring energy release [2].

Sources

  1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Interior of the Earth > Measuring Earthquakes > p. 21
  2. [4] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > Earthquakes > p. 8
  3. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 14: Earthquakes > 14.5. Richter Magnitude Scale > p. 182
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2001 · Q59 Relevance score: 5.80

Consider the following statements regarding the earthquakes : I. The intensity of earthquake is measured on Mercalli scale. II. The magnitude of an earthquake is a measure of energy released. III. Earthquake magnitudes are based on direct measurements of the amplitude of seismic waves. IV. In the Richter scale, each whole number demonstrates a hundredfold increase in the amount of energy released. Which of these statements are correct ?

IAS · 2006 · Q22 Relevance score: 5.08

Consider the following statements: I. The Richter Scale is a logarithmic scale and so an increase of one magnitude unit represents a factor of 10 times in amplitude. II. Each integer reading of the Richter scale has an energy 100 times that of the previous integer reading. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

NDA-I · 2019 · Q56 Relevance score: 5.02

Consider the following statements relating to Richter scale: 1. It was devised in 1935 by Charles F. Richter 2. It describes the antity of energy released by a single earthake 3. Richter Scale has no upper limit Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

CDS-II · 2016 · Q14 Relevance score: 3.74

With reference to earthquakes, which of the following statements are correct? 1. Earthquakes largely occur along the converging plate boundaries. 2. Point of origin of earthquake in lithosphere is known as focus/ hypocentre. 3. Intensity of earthquake decreases with distance from the epicentre. 4. Epicentre of earthquake always remains over continents only. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

CDS-I · 2014 · Q93 Relevance score: 2.59

Which of the following statements relating to earthquakes is/are correct? 1. The point of origin of an earthquake is called the epicenter. 2. The lines joining the places which were affected by earthquake at the same point of time are called homoseismal lines. Select the correct answer using the code given below.