While visiting an ostentatious friend that moved to Malibu, California, you are both shaken modestly by an earthquake. Damage to his swinging bachelor pad is slight: some plaster from the ceiling cracked and his autographed poster of David Hasselhoff fell to the floor. Looking at you he proclaims, "Whoa, Dude. That must have been a 6.1." You tell him he's full of it because.

a. He's always full of it, whatever it is. 

b. You know that a magnitude 6.1 releases the same energy as an atomic bomb, and his pad does not appear to have sustained that much damage.

c. You know that you can't determine the magnitudes of an earthquake without knowing your distance from the epicenter. 

d. You know that large earthquakes like a "6.1" can generate tsunamis and this one didn't even make a ripple on his king size waterbed with tiger print comforter and bedazzeled duvet cover.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

The most likely reason you would tell your friend hes wrong about the earthquake magnitude is c You ... View the full answer