Question

approximately how much more energy is released in a 6.5 richter magnitude earthquake than in one with magnitude 5.5?

Explanation:

Step1: Determine the energy release for magnitude 5.5 and 6.5

From the table, energy release for magnitude 5.5 is \(1,800,000\) kilotons of TNT and for magnitude 6.5 is \(56,000,000\) kilotons of TNT.

Step2: Calculate the ratio

$$ \frac{56000000}{1800000}\approx 31.11\approx32 $$

Answer:

32 times