Mathematics

Problem

52. Earthquake Intensity The Richter scale magnitude

R

of an earthquake is based on the features of the associated seismic wave and is measured by

R=\log (a / T)+B

where

a

is the amplitude in

\mu \mathrm{m}

(micrometers),

T

is the period in seconds, and

B

accounts for the weakening of the seismic wave due to the distance from the epicenter. Compute the earthquake magnitude

R

for each set of values. (a)

a=250, T=2

, and

B=4.25

(b)

a=300, T=4

, and

B=3.5