8

SCIENCE 8
Quarter 2 – Module 3:
EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY &
MAGNITUDE

i
Science – Grade 8
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 2 – Module 3: Earthquake Intensity and Magnitude
First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any
work of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the
government agency or office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for
exploitation of such work for profit. Such agency or office may, among other things,
impose as a condition the payment of royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand

names, trademarks, etc.) included in this book are owned by their respective
copyright holders. Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to
use these materials from their respective copyright owners. The publisher and
authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them.

Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF THE MODULE

WRITER: RICHEL S. OCAŇA

EDITORS: WELIMEN C. OSEO

JERIEL G. MARTIREZ

REVIEWERS: ROWENA C. DE LEON

JERIEL G. MARTIREZ
MICHELLE H. GUADAMOR

LAYOUT ARTIST: ROMAN B. JEBULAN

SEVERINO R. CANTUBA
KEVIN B. OJOS
DAVE B. FORTES
JERIEL G. MARTIREZ

1
 Most Essential Learning Competency

Differentiate the: (1) epicenter of an earthquake from its

focus; (2) intensity of an earthquake from its magnitude;
(3) active and inactive faults.
S8ES –IIa-15

2
 Earthquake Intensity & Magnitude

Introduction

Hi, Good day! Nice seeing you again.

You have successfully finished the previous
modules which means you are now knowledgeable
about the origin of an earthquake. Now that you
completely understood the concepts of focus and
epicenter you can go further with your studies about
earthquake. Study this module diligently and you are
encouraged to use books and other sources if you
choose to dig deeper into the topic.
In this module, you will learn how the intensity
and magnitude of an earthquake can be measured.

Most Essential Learning

Competency & Objectives
In this module, you will learn to differentiate the: (1) epicenter of an
earthquake from its focus; (2) intensity of an earthquake from its magnitude;
(3) active and inactive faults.

Specifically, you will learn to:

✓ Differentiate intensity of an earthquake from its magnitude.

3
 Pre-Test

Before we start our lesson, try to answer the

following questions.
.

Directions: Read the questions carefully and choose the letter of

the correct answer.

1. Intensity is to Damage while Magnitude is to _________________

a. Wave
b. Amplitude
c. Energy
d. Force

2. Which of the following measures of an earthquake will decrease when

observed farther from the epicenter?
a. Intensity
b. Magnitude
c. Depth of the focus
d. Location of the epicenter

3. What happen to the magnitude and intensity as measured farther from the
epicenter?
a. Magnitude increases while intensity decreases
b. Magnitude decreases while intensity increases
c. Magnitude increases while intensity remains constant
d. Magnitude remains constant while intensity decreases

4. Is intensity 2 and magnitude 2 of an earthquake the same? Why?

a. No, because intensity is a measure of an earthquake in terms of
energy while magnitude is a measure of the damaged caused by an
earthquake.
b. No, because intensity is a measure of the severity of damaged caused
by an earthquake while magnitude is a measure of energy released.
c. Yes, because both intensity 2 and magnitude 2 are considered weak
vibration of the ground and can hardly felt by people.
d. Yes, because both have equal quantity thus, they can be interpreted
similarly.

4
5. Which of the following statements are TRUE?

I. Magnitude is a measure of seismic energy while intensity is a

measure of damage.
II. Magnitude decreases with increasing distance while intensity
remain constant.
III. Magnitude can be measured by an instrument while intensity
is by observation.

a. I and II only b. II and III only c. I and III only d. I, II and III

Did you answer each question correctly?

If you are not sure with your answer, it is alright!
Now, continue with the next activities and find
out more about the lesson.

5
 Learning Activities

E licit
Are you ready? Before we start with our
module, Let’s revisit our concept about the epicenter
and focus of an earthquake by performing the next
task. Remember to complete and learn from each
task that you are about to do. Have fun!

Direction: Group the following information in the table below.

FOCUS EPICENTER

• It is a point where the rocks start to fracture.

• It is where the earthquake originates.
• It is where the rupture begins.
• It is a point of reference when reporting an earthquake.
• It is located below the earth’s surface.
• It is located in the land surface.

Great job! Take note of the basic concepts of focus

and epicenter. The focus of an earthquake is located
beneath the earth where the earthquake starts while the
epicenter is the area just above the focus.

6
E ngage
To have an idea about magnitude and
intensity of an earthquake, kindly read carefully
and analyze the news article below and answer the
questions that follows.

1. How strong was the earthquake?

__________________________________________________
2. What is the magnitude of an earthquake that was felt in different
areas of Mindanao?
__________________________________________________
3. What are the intensities of an earthquake that were felt in different
areas of Mindanao?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
4. What are the two scales used in the news article to describe the
earthquake that occur in Mindanao?
__________________________________________________
5. What do you think is the difference between magnitude and intensity?
__________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

7
 E xplore
You are now about to perform an activity
that will give you a clear vision about magnitude
and intensity. Read and follow the directions
carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Good Luck!!!

Activity 1: QUICK QUAKE…

Objectives:

After performing this activity, you should be able to:

1. determine the intensity of an earthquake in a certain area using the
earthquake intensity map and PHIVOLCS PEIS.
2. differentiate magnitude and intensity.

Materials:

Paper and pen

Earthquake intensity map

Procedure:

1. Study the earthquake intensity map carefully and complete the table 1.
2. Follow the legend below to understand the map.
Legend: - intensity
- epicenter
- seismic wave

2. To determine the intensity of an earthquake in a given place, look at the

color codes from the map and the its corresponding color code level at
the Phivolcs Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS).
3. To determine the measured magnitude of an earthquake in a certain area,
find the magnitude of an earthquake at the source or focus.
4. Answer the guide questions based from the data on table 1.

8
9
10
Table 1:
DISTANCE FROM THE
LOCATION INTENSITY MAGNITUDE
EPICENTER
Malita 59 km
Buayan 68 km
Davao 72 km
Cotabato 119 km
Butuan 257 km

GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. Which place is nearest to the epicenter? What is the measured
magnitude of the earthquake in that place?
____________________________________________________________
2. Which place is farthest from the epicenter? What is the measured
magnitude of the earthquake in that place?
____________________________________________________________
3. What happens to the magnitude of the earthquake as the wave mov
away from the epicenter?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
4. In which place does the highest intensity scale was observed?
____________________________________________________________
5. In which place does the lowest intensity scale was observed?
____________________________________________________________
6. Can you see an increasing or decreasing trend in the intensity data?
Is the intensity affected by the distance from the epicenter? Explain.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
7. Based from the data above, what is the difference between magnitude and
intensity of an earthquake?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Great job! You have completed the activity. Do you

have now an idea about intensity and magnitude of
an earthquake? If you are still confused, you can
review your answers in the activity.

11
 E xplain
Take time to understand the following
ideas or concepts about the magnitude and
intensity of an earthquake for you to confirm the
results of the activities you have performed.

The magnitude of an earthquake is a measure of seismic energy

produced at the source of vibration or focus. The numerical value of the
magnitude which is expressed in Hindu Arabic numerals remains constant to that at
the focus regardless of the distance from the source to which it is being measured. It
means that an earthquake will only have one measured magnitude. Magnitude can
be only determined with the use of an instrument called seismometer and interpreted
following the Richter scale.

On the other hand, intensity is the measure of the severity of damaged

caused by an earthquake. Basically, it is affected by the distance from the epicenter,
areas near the epicenter suffer from greater damage than areas farther from the
epicenter. The intensity level of an earthquake is measured through observations in

12
a particular locality and is interpreted and expressed using the Mercalli Scale which
was adapted in the Phivolcs Earthquake Intensity Scale.

In your activity, it is evident that as the distance from the epicenter becomes
greater the intensity decreases while the magnitude remains the same. However, as
you have noticed on the intensity map Digos which is nearer to the epicenter than
Malita recorded lesser intensity than Malita. This is for reasons that, intensity is
affected by other factors like population density, geology of the area and types of
building constructions.
Is the explanation clear to you? If you need
more help to understand the concept do not
hesitate to ask your teacher. It is important to
note that earthquake can be measured in terms of
its magnitude and intensity.

13
 E laborate
Now that you have understood the basic
concept regarding magnitude and intensity of an
earthquake, let’s try some challenges.

Direction: Study the map and answer the following questions.

1. What is the magnitude and intensity at the epicenter?

___________________________________________
2. What is the magnitude and intensity in Caibaan?
___________________________________________
3. How will you differentiate the magnitude and intensity of the earthquake felt
at Caibaan and Carigara?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

14
 ___________________________________________________________

Are you sure of answers? If you do, great

job! By now, you already know the difference
between the earthquake’s magnitude from its
intensity. Let’s try to extend your learnings by
performing the next task.

E xtend
Great job! You are now about to finish this
module. But I want to challenge you one more
time. Make a short news out of the picture below
applying what you have learned about intensity
and magnitude.

15
 _________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Great job! You have completed your

module. If you need some clarifications feel
free to ask your teacher.

16
 Vocabulary List

You may refer to the following vocabulary words used in this module:

Epicenter - refers to the area above the focus.

Focus- refers to theregion where the earthquake is generated
Geology- refers to the physical structure and substances of the earth.
Intensity – refers to the severity of damaged caused by an earthquake.
Magnitude – refers to the amount of seismic energy released in an earthquake.
Seismic energy – refers to the energy released during an earthquake which is
carried by the seismic wave.

17
 Post-Test

E valuate
I am confident that you can now
answer the questions below correctly. The
following test will measure how much you
have learned in this module. You can do it!

Directions: Read the questions carefully and choose the letter of

the correct answer.

1. Intensity is to Damage while Magnitude is to _________________

a. Wave
b. Amplitude
c. Energy
d. Force

2. Which of the following measures of an earthquake will decrease when

observed farther from the epicenter?
a. Intensity
b. Magnitude
c. Depth of the focus
d. Location of the epicenter

3. What happens to the magnitude and intensity as measured farther from the
epicenter?
a. Magnitude increases while intensity decreases
b. Magnitude decreases while intensity increases
c. Magnitude increases while intensity remains constant
d. Magnitude remains constant while intensity decreases

18
4. Is intensity 2 and magnitude 2 of an earthquake the same? Why?
a. No, because intensity is a measure of an earthquake in terms of
energy while magnitude is a measure of the damaged caused by an
earthquake.
b. No, because intensity is a measure of the severity of damaged caused
by an earthquake while magnitude is a measure of energy released.
c. Yes, because both intensity 2 and magnitude 2 are considered weak
vibration of the ground and can hardly felt by people.
d. Yes, because both have equal quantity thus, they can be interpreted
similarly.

5. Which of the following statements are TRUE?

I. Magnitude is a measure of seismic energy while intensity is a

measure of damage.
II. Magnitude decreases with increasing distance while intensity
remain constant.
III. Magnitude can be measured by an instrument while intensity
is by observation.

a. I and II only b. II and III only c. I and III only d. I, II and III

19
 Answer Keys

Pre-Test Answer Keys

:
1. C
2. A
3. D
4. B
5. C

Learning Activities Answer Keys

Elicit:

FOCUS EPICENTER
• It is a point where the rocks • It is where the rupture begins.
start to fracture.

• It is where the earthquake • It is a point of reference when

originates. reporting an earthquake.

• It is located below the earth’s • It is located in the land surface.

surface.

Engage:
1. Magnitude 5.2
2. Magnitude 5.2
3. Balasan and Magsaysay – intensity scale V
Kidapawan, Tupi and Malungon - intensity scale IV
Alabel and Gen. Santos - intensity scale II
Kiamba - intensity scale I
4. Intensity and magnitude
5. Magnitude is constant in all places while intensity varies from places to
places.

20
Explore:
Table 1
DISTANCE FROM THE
LOCATION INTENSITY MAGNITUDE
EPICENTER
MALITA 59 km IX 6.8
BUAYAN 68 km VI 6.8
DAVAO 72 km V 6.8
COTABATO 119 km IV 6.8
BUTUAN 257 km III 6.8

Guide Questions:
1. Malita, magnitude 6.8
2. Butuan, magnitude 6.8
3. Magnitude remains the same.
4. Malita with intensity scale IX
5. Butuan with intensity scale III
6. Decreasing trend.
Yes, the farther the place from the epicenter the lesser the intensity scale.
7. Magnitude remains constant wherever it is being measured while intensity
varies based on the distance from the epicenter. Nearer places have higher intensity
while farther places from the epicenter experience lower intensity of an earthquake.

Elaborate:
1. Magnitude 5.4, intensity V
2. Magnitude 5.4, intensity II
3. The magnitude in both places are equal to magnitude 5.4. However, the
intensity felt in Carigara is V which is greater than the intensity in
Caibaan which is only within the scale of II.

Extend:
The News Flash report must include the information about the magnitude
which may range between the scales of 5-7 and intensity scales ranges from VII to VIII.

Post-Test Answer Keys

1. C
2. A
3. B
4. B
5. C

21
 References

Cover Art: Deadly Philippine Quake Hits Bohol from bbc.com

Cover Art: Safety Approaches During Earthquake from buildinngresearch.com.np

Cover Art: Science Media Centre from sciencemediacentre.co.nz

M 6.8 – 7 km S of Magsaysay, Philippines. Available from: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/

Understanding Earthquake and Earthquake Hazard. Baby Jane T. Punungbayan.

Available from: https://www. slideshare.net/

What is the difference between magnitude and intensity?. USGS. Available from:
www.usgs.gov/fags/

22