Final answer:
Earthquake waves recorded by seismograph machines transmit energy, which is evident from the damage they cause. The energy relates to the amplitude of the waves, explaining why larger amplitude earthquakes lead to more significant destruction. As earthquake waves spread out, their energy and impact decrease.
Step-by-step explanation:
The seismic waves recorded by seismograph machines transmit energy. This energy is what causes the shaking during an earthquake and can lead to significant structural damage, akin to the work of thousands of wrecking balls. Earthquake waves are an example of how all waves carry energy, and this energy is directly observable through the effects of the earthquake, such as destruction of buildings and infrastructure. The amount of energy released by an earthquake is quantified and often reported as a magnitude number (e.g., 5.0, 6.7), which reflects the severity of the earthquake. Moreover, the energy in a wave is related to its amplitude; a large-amplitude earthquake results in larger ground displacements and, consequently, more damage. As these waves spread out from their source, their amplitude, and therefore their energy, decreases, making the impact less severe the further away from the source it is.