The Richter Scale is used to measure what aspect of an earthquake?

The Richter Scale is designed specifically to measure the magnitude of an earthquake, which quantifies the amount of energy released at the source of the earthquake. This measurement takes into account the amplitude of seismic waves recorded by seismographs. The scale provides a logarithmic value, meaning that each whole number step on the scale represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude, as well as roughly 31.6 times more energy release.

While the energy released during an earthquake is closely related to magnitude, the Richter Scale itself is not directly measuring the total energy released but rather calculating a number that reflects this energy based on seismic wave amplitude. The misconception here often arises because both energy and magnitude relate to the earthquake's strength, but the Richter Scale's primary function is to quantify magnitude.

In the context of the other choices, duration does not pertain to the Richter Scale, as it measures how long the shaking lasts, not its measured strength. Intensity refers to the effects of the earthquake at different locations, influenced by local geology and distance from the epicenter, whereas the Richter Scale provides a singular measure of magnitude that does not vary with location.