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 pre

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Submitted by examrobotsa on

Q: 22 (IAS/2006)
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?

question_subject: 

Science

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,38,39,38,8,26,5

keywords: 

{'richter scale': [1, 0, 1, 0], 'logarithmic scale': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'magnitude unit': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'amplitude': [1, 0, 7, 8], 'integer reading': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'previous integer reading': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'energy': [0, 0, 1, 2], 'increase': [3, 1, 10, 35], 'factor': [1, 1, 2, 2]}

The correct answer is option 1: I only. Let`s break down each statement:

Statement I: This is accurate. The Richter Scale is a logarithmic scale, meaning each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude. So, for example, a magnitude 5 earthquake would result in ten times the amplitude of a magnitude 4 earthquake.

Statement II: This claim is incorrect. While it`s true that the energy released increases with each integer, it`s not by 100 times. In fact, each whole number increase on the Richter Scale is equivalent to about 31.6 times energy release increase, not 100 times.

So, only statement I, pertaining to the Richter Scale being a logarithmic scale and each increase of one magnitude unit representing a factor of 10 times in amplitude, is correct. That`s why option 1 is the right answer.