A MATHEMTICAL MODEL for EARTHQUAKES B.

Banos
A MATHEMATICAL MODEL using ALGEBRA
Richter Scales are one of the scales used to measure the intensity of
an Earthquake. The Number is a decimal from 1 to 10. But the scale is
logarithmic.
This means that going from a 1 to a 2 on this scale, a 7 to an 8, just
increasing the number by one, does not just double or triple the energy
in the Earthquake.
Each whole number increase increases the energy of the
Earthquake by 32.
The San Andreas Fault is overdue for an 8 Earthquake. Going from a 6
to a 7 on the Richter Scale increases energy by 32. But going from a 6
to an 8 increases energy by 32 * 32 or about 1024!
THE MODEL
Construction cardboard will be used to layout, cutout and assemble
cubes that represent each Richter magnitude or number on the scale.
The VOLUME of the cube will represent the energy.
So,
IF a Richter 5 is represented by a little cube 1 cm on a side; i.e. its
volume is 1 * 1 * 1 cm or 1 cm^3, a Richter 6 is represented by a cube
that has a volume of 32 cm^3.
A Richter 7 is represented by a volume that is 32 * 32 = 1024 cm^3.
THE ALGEBRA
How long is the length of the first cardboard cube?
answer. The VOLUME = 1 cubic cm or 1 cm^3.

One cm is the

But
How long is the length of the next cube if it has a volume of 32 cm^3.
Algabraically, we can write down this equation:
V =S ^3 (Volume = side cubed). So in the general case for ANY cube,
regardless of size, the length of the side is the cube root of the volume.
Show this.

_WEBSITE: http://www.sciencecourseware.com
Complete the table below:
RICHTER
VAL.
5
6
7
8
9
10

Volume
(cm^3)

S length
(cm)

S length (in)

Comments

Questions:
Does it matter which is our first Richter value we choose for the
smallest volume? Why?
Why not?

Do you think that a lot of smaller Earthquakes can equal one big one?
Why?
Why not?

What do we need to know to have EARTHQUAKE SAFETY? Think of

epicenter, Energy in the Earthquake, Earth geology (rock
formations, bedrock location, etc.).

What does the VISUAL effect of these CUBES placed side by

side tell you if anything?