What is a measurement to an earthquake?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

Richter scale

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The Richter is NOT an SI scale. It is not a measurement scale based on a mathematical basis, but a descriptive scale - based on the effect of the earthquake.

There are two main aspects to earthquake measurement: intensity and magnitude. Intensity is the quality of the quake and tends to decrease with distance from the source of the earthquake. Intensity measurement is based on an arbitrary ranking of the "damage" caused.

Magnitude is the total energy output of the quake and could be measured in some multiple of watts.

Answer 3

Earthquakes are measured using the Richter scale or the moment magnitude scale. These scales measure the energy released by an earthquake at its source. The measurement is known as the magnitude of an earthquake.