The magnitude scale in earthquakes is logarithmic, indicating significant increases in ground motion and energy released with each unit. Comparing earthquake magnitudes involves understanding the substantial energy differences between various magnitudes. Garrett's reasoning of a magnitude 6 earthquake being twice as powerful as a magnitude 3 is incorrect due to the nature of the logarithmic scale.
Magnitude scale in earthquakes is logarithmic, meaning each unit increase indicates a tenfold increase in ground motion and a thirtyfold increase in energy released. For example, a magnitude 3 earthquake releases 900 times more energy than a magnitude 1 quake.
To compare magnitudes like 6.0 and 5.0, note that a magnitude 6.0 earthquake is 32 times more powerful than a magnitude 5.0 quake in terms of energy released, not just double.
In the context of an earthquake of magnitude 6 being twice as powerful as magnitude 3, Garrett is incorrect. A magnitude difference of 1 unit on the Richter scale represents a 32-fold increase in energy, not a simple doubling.
https://brainly.com/question/34761358