T5 Y1 WK 5 Math Dis
T5 Y1 WK 5 Math Dis
magnitude of the earthquake on the Richter scale is 7.7 and 5.7. Compare the readings and
conclude on the magnitudes of earthquakes based on the calculations obtained for both scale
readings.
To calculate the seismograph reading \( x \) from the magnitude \( M(x) \), we use the given
formula:
\[ M(x) = \log_{10}\left(\frac{x}{0.001}\right) \]
Comparison:
- An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 results in a seismograph reading of approximately
5011.872 millimeters.
- An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 results in a seismograph reading of approximately
50.119 millimeters.
(b) Why is the logarithmic function used in describing the magnitude of earthquakes instead of
polynomial or exponential functions?
Polynomial or exponential functions would not be as practical because they would either spread
the scale too thinly for smaller earthquakes or compress it too tightly for larger ones. The
logarithmic scale balances this by providing a uniform increase in magnitude that accurately
reflects the energy released by an earthquake, making it easier for scientists and the public to
understand and compare the severity of different earthquakes.
(c) Locate a news article discussing a recent earthquake in your country, provide Richter scale
magnitudes, determine the seismograph reading, and discuss the situation.
To find the seismograph readings for earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 5.7 on the Richter
scale, we use the formula:
\[ M(x) = \log_{10}\left(\frac{x}{0.001}\right) \]
Comparing these readings, the seismograph reading for a magnitude 7.7 earthquake
(approximately 5.012 meters) is significantly larger than that for a magnitude 5.7 earthquake
(approximately 0.05012 meters). This demonstrates the logarithmic nature of the Richter scale,
where each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in measured
amplitude and roughly 31.6 times more energy release.
A recent earthquake occurred near the coast of Northern California on July 17, 2024, with a
magnitude of 5.9. Using the formula mentioned earlier, we can determine the seismograph
reading for this earthquake:
\[ 5.9 = \log_{10}\left(\frac{x}{0.001}\right) \]
\[ 10^{5.9} = \frac{x}{0.001} \]
\[ x = 0.001 \times 10^{5.9} \]
\[ x \approx 0.07943 \text{ meters} \]
This earthquake, registering a seismograph reading of approximately 0.07943 meters, was felt
across a wide region but caused limited structural damage due to its moderate magnitude.
Northern California is a seismically active area, and this event highlights the importance of
preparedness and resilient infrastructure to mitigate earthquake risks
(https://earthquakelist.org/usa/) (https://www.usgs.gov/data/latest-earthquakes-map-and-list).
Q2
Let's go through each part of the task step-by-step:
Given:
- Initial number of cancer cells in 2018: 232.26 units
- Yearly increase rate: 2%
We can calculate the number of cancer cells for each subsequent year using the formula for
compound interest:
where:
- \( N(t) \) is the number of cancer cells at year \( t \)
- \( N_0 \) is the initial number of cancer cells
- \( r \) is the growth rate (2% or 0.02)
- \( t \) is the number of years from the initial year
Now, let's create the table:
The growth pattern of the cancer cells follows an exponential growth model. The mathematical
function representing this growth pattern is:
To project the number of cancer cells 10 years from 2023 (i.e., in 2033), we can use the same
exponential growth formula. Here, \( t = 15 \) because 2033 is 15 years from 2018:
I'll plot the graph using Python. The x-axis will represent the years, and the y-axis will represent
the number of cancer cells. The range will cover from 2018 to 2033.
References
- U.S. Geological Survey. (2024). Latest Earthquakes Map and List. Retrieved from
[USGS]https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/)
- Earthquake List. (2024). The complete United States earthquake report. Retrieved from
earthquakelist.org
(https://earthquakelist.org)