Question

How much does the intensity of earthquake increase after each unit of the Richter scale?

• A. Five times
• B. Seven times
• C. Ten times
• D. Fifteen times

Hint:

Remember: Richter scale is logarithmic, so each step means 10 times increase in amplitude and about 32 times more energy release.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Richter scale.
The Richter scale is a logarithmic scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes. Each increase of 1 unit on the scale corresponds to a tenfold increase in the amplitude of seismic waves.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
(A) Five times: Incorrect — too small.
(B) Seven times: Incorrect.
(C) Ten times: Correct — each unit increase means 10 times greater wave amplitude.
(D) Fifteen times: Incorrect.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Thus, the intensity of an earthquake increases ten times with each unit rise on the Richter scale.