Final answer:
The Richter scale uses logarithmic data to represent the magnitude of earthquakes, with each whole number increase corresponding to a tenfold increase in ground motion amplitude and about 31.6 times more energy release.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Richter scale is a method used to quantify the energy released during an earthquake. The scale generates numbers such as 2.3, 4.0, 6.1, and 7.0, which represent the magnitude of the earthquake. These numbers are an example of logarithmic data; as the Richter scale operates on a logarithmic scale that increases tenfold with each integer increment. In practical terms, this means that an earthquake rated at 6.0 on the Richter scale features ground motions that are ten times larger than those of an earthquake rated at 5.0.
The scale's use of a semi-log plot allows for the vast range of earthquake energies to be represented in a condensed form. The degree of ground movement, which correlates to the energy of the earthquake, is plotted logarithmically against a linear scale that ranks the intensity from 1 to 10. Since the Richter scale is a logarithmic measure of both the amplitude and the energy of the seismic waves produced by an earthquake, it effectively communicates the destructive effect the energy can have in a way that is understandable and scientifically useful.