ConcepTest: S Wave Amplitude

ConcepTest questions by David McConnell, David Steer , Walter Borowski, Jeffrey Dick, Annabelle Foos, Jeffrey Knott, Alvin Konigsberg, Michelle Malone, Heidi McGrew, Kathie Owens, and Stephen Van Horn
This material was originally created for Starting Point:Introductory Geology
and is replicated here as part of the SERC Pedagogic Service.

Question:

The city of Guildhall experienced two earthquakes within a 1-month interval. The first earthquake was magnitude 2; the second earthquake was magnitude 7. Examination of a seismogram recorded 100 km away showed that the amplitude of the S waves from the magnitude 2 earthquake was ______________ the amplitude of the S-waves from the magnitude 7 earthquake.

a. smaller than
b. larger than
c. the same as

Student Responses:

No data yet. The correct response is A.

If you would like to help acquire more Before and After statistics for this example, please contact the authors (see link at top of page).

References and Notes: