Chapter 8.6, Problem 5CYU

To determine

To find: The amount of energy released by the 1960 Chilean earthquake.

Answer to Problem 5CYU

The total amount of energy released is $E=3.5\times {10}^{24}$ ergs.

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

  $\log E=11.8+1.5M$

Measured earthquake $8.5$ on Richter scale.

Calculation:

Consider if $E$ ergs energy is released by earthquake of Richter scale magnitude $M$ then

  $\log E=11.8+1.5M$

Consider Chilean earthquake of Richter scale magnitude Richter scale that is $M=8.5$ therefore:

  $\begin{array}{l}\log E=11.8+1.5M\\ \log E=24.55\\ E={10}^{24.55}\end{array}$

  $E=3.5\times {10}^{24}$ Ergs

Therefore, the total amount of energy released is $E=3.5\times {10}^{24}$ ergs.