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There are actually 3. But 2 of them are The Mercalli scale measures an earthquake's intensity which is the strength of the ground motion in a given place. It is not very accurate though. The Richter scale measures the size of seismic waves. It gives it a rating from 1 which is the lowest(can't be felt) to 9(deathly destruction) These 2 scales are very similiar.

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Q: What are the two scale used to measure earthquakes and what do they measure?
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Describe two different ways to measure the size of an earthquake?

The Mercalli scale, which measures the visible effects; and the Richter scale, which measures the energy given off by the earthquake, are the two most common ways of measuring the size of an earthquake.


Why is it useful to have two separate systems to measure Earthquakes?

Two separate systems used to measure earthquakes are important for accuracy. More than one system to measure gives scientists an accurate measurement of an earthquakes strength.


What instrument measures the intensity of an earthquake?

Strong-motion seismometers (which are also known as Accelerographs) are used to measure the intensity of earthquakes. It should be noted that intensity is different from magnitude and is measured using a differing scale (Moddified Mercalli or Macroseismic scale for intensity vs Moment Magnitude scale for earthquake magnitudes.)Seismometers / accelerometers measure the intensity of earthquakes.Seismometers - instruments that measure motions of the ground.The visual output, either on a monitor or on paper is called a seismographSeismometers are in part used to measure the intensity of earthquakes. The scale used to measure earthquake intensity is known as the Modified Mercalli scale. A variation of this is used in Europe and is known as the Macroseismic scale.Earthquakes are measured with a seismometer.Seismometers and accelerometers are used to measure the acceleration of the ground surface and the total amplitude of seismic waves during an earthquake.These values are used by seismologists to find the intensity of the earthquake (along with observations of the damage done to structures).Earthquakes are measured using machines called SEISMOMETERS which record the shaking as waves on a graph .The magnitude of most earthquakes is measured on the Richter scale, invented by Charles F. Richter in 1934. The Richter magnitude is calculated from the amplitude of the largest seismic wave recorded for the earthquake, no matter what type of wave was the strongest.


How do scientists measures earthquakes?

Scientists normally use something called the Richter scale to measure earthquakes. They measure in maginitude. 1 on the Richter scale would be small vibrations through the earthquake zone where as 10 would be total destruction. Hope that's helped!


Which scale measures the amount of damage after an earthquake?

The scale that measures the amount of damage after an earthquake is the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.

Related questions

What number system is used to describe a quake?

There are two systems that measure earthquakes. The Richter scale measures the moment magnitude, and the Mercalli scale measures the intensity of an earthquake.


Describe two different ways to measure the size of an earthquake?

The Mercalli scale, which measures the visible effects; and the Richter scale, which measures the energy given off by the earthquake, are the two most common ways of measuring the size of an earthquake.


Why is it useful to have two separate systems to measure Earthquakes?

Two separate systems used to measure earthquakes are important for accuracy. More than one system to measure gives scientists an accurate measurement of an earthquakes strength.


What are the two way scientists measure earthquakes?

Moment Magnitude Scale. Large earthquakes are not measured very well by the Richter scale, especially if the seimometers used are very far away from anearthquakeepicenter. The moment magnitude scale is now most commonly usedfor medium to large earthquakes.


What scale helps you determine the magnitude of an earthquake?

There are two instruments, which are basically the same thing. There is the seismograph , and a more specific tool measures the waves on what is called the Richter scale. Earthquakes are given a number from one to ten, ten being the strongest. The strongest earthquake that their ever was, was measured a 9.3.


What are two things used to measure weight?

scale and balace


What are all of the scales for measuring earthquakes?

Moment Magnitude, Ritcher Scale and Mercili Scale.


What two scales are used to measure the intensity and magnitude of earthquakes?

Mercalli and Richter scales


What instrument measures the intensity of an earthquake?

Strong-motion seismometers (which are also known as Accelerographs) are used to measure the intensity of earthquakes. It should be noted that intensity is different from magnitude and is measured using a differing scale (Moddified Mercalli or Macroseismic scale for intensity vs Moment Magnitude scale for earthquake magnitudes.)Seismometers / accelerometers measure the intensity of earthquakes.Seismometers - instruments that measure motions of the ground.The visual output, either on a monitor or on paper is called a seismographSeismometers are in part used to measure the intensity of earthquakes. The scale used to measure earthquake intensity is known as the Modified Mercalli scale. A variation of this is used in Europe and is known as the Macroseismic scale.Earthquakes are measured with a seismometer.Seismometers and accelerometers are used to measure the acceleration of the ground surface and the total amplitude of seismic waves during an earthquake.These values are used by seismologists to find the intensity of the earthquake (along with observations of the damage done to structures).Earthquakes are measured using machines called SEISMOMETERS which record the shaking as waves on a graph .The magnitude of most earthquakes is measured on the Richter scale, invented by Charles F. Richter in 1934. The Richter magnitude is calculated from the amplitude of the largest seismic wave recorded for the earthquake, no matter what type of wave was the strongest.


What two scales measures earthquakes strength?

There are actually about 20 different ways of measuring earthquakes. The 3 main are the Mercalli scale, richter scale, and moment magnitude scale


Why is the modified mercalli scale used?

It can be used to calculate the magnitude of Earthquakes that are too large for the Richter scale (any Earthquake with a magnitude over 6.9 is un-suited for measurement using the Richter scale, hence the introduction of the moment magnitude scale for large earthquakes). For more information about the two scales, please see the related questions.


How do scientists measures earthquakes?

Scientists normally use something called the Richter scale to measure earthquakes. They measure in maginitude. 1 on the Richter scale would be small vibrations through the earthquake zone where as 10 would be total destruction. Hope that's helped!