Science
What is The Richter scale?
The Richter scale measures the strength (magnitude) of earthquakes. It's logarithmic, so each whole number is ten times more ground shaking — and about 32 times more energy — than the one below. A magnitude 6 quake is far stronger than a 5.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains the richter scale.
Key things to understand
- 1It measures earthquake magnitude (strength).
- 2It's logarithmic: each step is 10× more shaking.
- 3Each step is roughly 32× more energy released.
- 4Modern science often uses the related 'moment magnitude' scale.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Richter scale measure?
- The magnitude, or strength, of an earthquake based on the size of its seismic waves.
- Why is the Richter scale logarithmic?
- Earthquake energy varies enormously, so a logarithmic scale keeps the numbers manageable.
- How much stronger is a magnitude 7 than a 6?
- About 10 times more shaking and roughly 32 times more energy released.