Question

Name the scale on which the destructive energy of an earthquake is measured. An earthquake measures $3$ on this scale. Would it be recorded by a seismograph? Is it likely to cause much damage?

Answer 1

Richter scale:

1. The scale that is used to measure the destructive energy of an earthquake is known as the Richter scale.
2. It was developed in 1935 by Charles F Richter.
3. The scale has a range of $0-9$.
4. As the range is from of $0-9$, an earthquake of magnitude $3$ can be easily recorded by a seismographer.
5. An earthquake of magnitude $3$ will not cause much damage. It is a low-level magnitude on the scale. Generally, earthquakes of magnitude $7$ or above cause much damage.
6. The damage caused by the magnitudes on a Richter scale is given in the below diagram.

Hence, the scale on which the destructive energy of an earthquake is measured is the Richter scale. A seismograph can record an earthquake of magnitude $3$, which won't cause much damage.