Final answer:
The seismic energy from a fault rupture manifests as earthquake waves, with the Richter scale measuring their amplitude and energy, directly related to their destructive capacity.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a fault ruptures, the seismic energy given off takes the form of earthquake waves. These waves carry substantial energy that can be directly observed by the damage they cause, such as shaking cities to the ground. The scale used to quantify earthquakes, like the Richter scale, is logarithmic and measures the amplitude of the earthquake waves as well as the energy they carry. Higher amplitude waves will produce more ground displacement and, consequently, more damage.