Logarithmic FunctionsEarthquake Task

In 1935 Charles Richter defined the magnitude of an earthquake to be

Where M, represents the magnitude, I is the intensity of the earthquake, S is the intensity of a “standard earthquake”

Magnitude = “size”Generally measured as a function of the

amount of energy released during a particular event

Magnitude-Frequency concept: The magnitude of an event is inversely related to frequency

Math In Earthquakeshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=nxqRQgRAe9o&feature=related

Magnitude-Frequency Relationship: Earthquakes

Magnitude Energy Released

Ground Motion

# per yr

2-2.9 1,300,000 106

3-3.9 x30 x10 130,000 105

4-4.9 x30 x10 13,000 104

5-5.9 x30 x10 1300 103

6-6.9 x30 x10 130 102

7-7.9 x30 x10 17 101

8-8.9 x30 x10 0-1 100

ExampleAn earthquake hit the City of Toronto back in

1985 with a magnitude of 4.1. A survivor of the Vancouver earthquake of 1981 had heard this, and began to laugh stating they had survived an earthquake that was almost 3000 times more intense than that. What was the magnitude of the second earthquake?

Example – Comparing Intensities

A recent earthquake in San Francisco measured 7.1 on the Richter scale. One previous earthquake had measured 8.3 on the Richter scale. How many times more intense was the first earthquake in comparison with the second?

TaskResearch and compare Three earthquakes in terms of their

magnitude. Once you have selected 3, determine the difference in intensities for each of these earthquakes.

Discuss with your groups about the consequences that follow an earthquake that occurs in a developing country vs. developed

What type of relief efforts exist for these types of events

Are certain areas more prone to earthquakes vs. Others? Why or Why not?

Present Your information on a piece of chart paper

Information on your Chart Paper- Calculations- A Paragraph about your Groups Findings-

Interesting topic, compare Haiti to Chilean Earthquake, which was stronger? Why was there not an equal amount of support to both countries? It has been a year since the event,