NESA Number

YEAR 11

2019 ASSESSMENT
TASK 2

Mathematics Advanced
Task Number: Assessment Task 2
Total Marks: 36
Weighting: 30%
Date Issued: 30/5/19
Date Due: 14/6/19
MA-E1: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Topics:
MA-C1: Gradients and Tangents

OUTCOMES TO BE ASSESSED
MA11-5: interprets the meaning of the derivative, determines the derivative of functions and
applies these to solve simple practical problems

MA11-6: manipulates and solves expressions using the logarithmic and index laws, and uses
logarithms and exponential functions to solve practical problems

MA11-8: uses appropriate technology to investigate, organise, model and interpret information in
a range of contexts

MA11-9: provides reasoning to support conclusions which are appropriate to the context

NOTE: Throughout the whole assignment you are expected to show ALL working.
No marks will be awarded to bald answers.
Section I: Earthquakes and Richter Magnitude (13 Marks)

Throughout this section you may find it beneficial to refer to the following sources:
 https://www.sms-tsunami-warning.com/pages/richter-scale#.XM6Bq44zbD4
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qbg7orb1lc
 https://www.britannica.com/science/Richter-scale

Earthquake intensity may be measured using the Richter scale which is a logarithmic scale.

(a) In no more than 2 sentences, give a brief overview of the Richter scale’s development.
2

The Richter scale, developed by Charles F. Richter in 1935, is a logarithmic scale used to
measure the magnitude of earthquakes based on seismic waves' amplitude. Richter's
innovative scale revolutionized the way earthquakes are quantified, providing a
standardized method for comparing earthquake intensities and assessing their impact.

Using the Richter scale, the magnitude (M) of an earthquake may be found using the formula

,
where I is the intensity as measured by the maximum amplitude detected for the earthquake wave, and S is
intensity of the ‘standard’ earthquake wave which has an amplitude of 1 micron (1 millionth of a metre)
when measured on a seismograph 100 km from the epicentre.

(b) A particular earthquake has a maximum amplitude of 300 microns.

2
Find the magnitude of this earthquake.

M = log10(300/1),
= log10(300)
= 2.4771

(c) An earthquake has a magnitude of 3.0, what is the maximum amplitude as measured on the
2
seismograph?
Leave your answer in microns.

I = 1000
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(d) Show that an earthquake of Richter magnitude 5.0 is 10 times the intensity of one with
2
Richter magnitude 4.0.

I = 10

(e) Between 1900 and 1950, (preceding, during and immediately after the development of the
3
Richter scale) the greatest recorded earthquake had Richter magnitude 8.9, while the least had
magnitude 0.
By determining the difference in intensity of these earthquakes, explain the necessity of using
logarithms for an earthquake scale.

M = log10(I/S)
8.9 = log10(I)
10^8.9 = I
I = 794 328 234.7

0 = log10(I)
10^0=I
I=1

Without logarithms, it is unclear to see that the size of earthquakes is

(f) The largest recorded earthquake was the Great Chilean earthquake which had Richter
2
magnitude 9.5.
Find another earthquake from around the world (not including Australia), with Richter
magnitude greater than 4.
State its location, date of occurrence, and Richter magnitude.
Compare the intensity of this earthquake with that of the Great Chilean earthquake.

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Section II: The Energy Released by Earthquakes (12 Marks)

Use the following stimulus materials to answer the questions that follow.

Graph 1: Energy versus Richter Magnitude

In the graph below, the logarithm base 10 of the energy (E) an earthquake releases in ergs is graphed against
its Richter magnitude (M).

Energy (ergs) versus Richter Magnitude of Earthquakes

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Table 1: Richter Magnitude, Description and Frequency

Source: http://giansnaturaldisasterjournal.weebly.com/science/7515-science

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Table 2: Richter Magnitude, Energy and Equivalence

Source: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/mag-intensity/

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(a) By using an appropriate pair of values from Graph 1, show that the equation of
2
the given line is .

(b) Rewrite the above equation in exponential form with E as the subject.
1

(c) Use information from Table 2 to show that an increase of 1 unit in Richter magnitude
2
increases the energy released by a factor of more than 30.
Verify this using the formula in part (b).

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(d) Research the 1989 Newcastle earthquake.

(i) What was the Richter magnitude of the earthquake?

1

(ii) What was the equivalent energy (in ergs) released?

1
Note: use the formula from part (b).

(iii) The following energy units conversions are given:

3

The Newcastle energy consumption for the whole year of 1989 was approximately
3300 GWh.
Show that if all of the energy generated by the Newcastle earthquake had been captured,
that it could have powered the city for approximately half a day.

(iv) Did the damage caused by the Newcastle earthquake fit with the expectations shown in
2
the tables? Justify your answer.

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Section III: Exponential Modelling and Compound Interest (11 Marks)

Recall the compound interest formula ,

where A is the compounded value of the investment, P is the principal, r is the interest rate per compounding
period and n is the number of periods.

(a) The formula representing Abimalech’s investment is , for n years.

1
What does this tell you about the principal and the annual interest rate for Abimalech’s
investment?

(b) Using your understanding of logarithms, find how long it would take for this investment to
2
triple in value. Give your answer to the nearest year.

10
A graph of the value of Abimalech’s investment over time is shown below. Also shown is the tangent
where (in red) and a secant from where to where (in green).

(c) Find the gradient of the tangent line, using the grid.
2
Explain what the gradient of the tangent represents in this context.

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(d) Find the gradient of the secant shown.
2
Explain, using your understanding of differentiation by first principles, how a better
approximation for the gradient of the tangent (at ) may be found using a new secant.

(e) Use the equation (not the graph) and your understanding of first principles to find a new
2
approximation to the gradient of the tangent which is accurate to 2 decimal places.

(f) An important property of simple exponential functions is that the gradient of the tangent line
2
at any point on them will be a constant multiplied by the y-value at this point.
Use part (e) to find the value of this constant for Abimalech’s investment.

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☺ END OF ASSIGNMENT ☻

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 NESA Number

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