Question 5
The 1949 Olympia earthquake in Washington had a Richter scale magnitude of 7.1. The 1994 Northridge
earthquake in Washington had a Richter scale magnitude of 6.1.
Suppose an architect has designed a building strong enough to withstand an earthquake 30 times as intense
as the Olympia quake and 40 times as intense as the Northridge quake. Which building can withstand the
highest magnitude of the quake? Explain your finding.