Magnitude 4.5規模 4.5
A jolt near the epicenter, and only a faint sway a hundred kilometers away.
震央附近晃一下，一百公里外只剩很輕微的搖晃。
Earth and Weather · Unit 1 · Lesson 3 · 地球與天氣 單元一 第三課
What Is the Difference Between Magnitude and Intensity?規模和震度有什麼不同？
After every earthquake, the report gives two kinds of numbers: one magnitude, and a different intensity for every town. Which one tells you how big the earthquake was, and which one tells you how hard your house shook? On a 3D map of Taiwan, change the magnitude and the depth of an earthquake and watch ten cities respond.
每次地震之後，報告上都有兩種數字：一個規模，還有每個鄉鎮各不相同的震度。哪一個是在說地震有多大？哪一個是在說你家搖得多厲害？在台灣的 3D 地圖上，改變一個地震的規模和深度，看十個城市怎麼反應。
Big idea · 一句話看懂
Magnitude tells how much energy an earthquake released. One earthquake has only one magnitude, wherever you are. Intensity tells how hard the ground shook in one place, so it is different from town to town: strong near the earthquake and weaker far away. A light bulb has one brightness, but how bright it looks depends on where you stand.
規模說的是一個地震放出了多少能量。同一個地震只有一個規模，不管你在哪裡都一樣。震度說的是某一個地方的地面搖得多厲害，所以每個鄉鎮都不一樣：離地震近的地方強，遠的地方弱。就像一顆燈泡只有一個亮度，可是看起來有多亮，要看你站在哪裡。
3D Model · 3D 模型
One Earthquake, Ten Cities 一個地震，十個城市
Drag to turn the map, and scroll or pinch to zoom. Choose where the earthquake happens, then move the two sliders. The column on each city grows taller and redder as the shaking there gets stronger. Tilt the map to look underneath: the red ball is where the earthquake starts. Notice that the magnitude is one number, but every city has its own intensity.
拖曳可以旋轉地圖，滾輪或雙指可以縮放。先選地震發生在哪裡，再拉動兩條滑桿。每個城市上的柱子越高、越紅，代表那裡搖得越厲害。把地圖歪過來看底下：紅色的球是地震開始的地方。注意看：規模只有一個數字，可是每個城市都有自己的震度。
Drag to turn · 拖曳旋轉 Scroll or pinch to zoom · 滾輪／雙指縮放
This 3D model needs WebGL, which this browser does not support. The reading and the cards below still explain everything.
這個瀏覽器不支援 WebGL，無法顯示 3D 模型；下方的課文與卡片一樣能看懂。
- Columns: taller and redder means stronger shaking
柱子：越高越紅，搖得越厲害 - Rings: where the shaking drops to the next level
圓圈：搖晃減弱到下一級的地方 - Red ball: where the earthquake starts, underground
紅球：地震在地底下開始的地方
An example, not a forecast. The three earthquakes are made up, the rule that turns magnitude and distance into shaking is a simple formula chosen for this lesson, and the outline of Taiwan is simplified. Real shaking does not spread in neat circles: it depends on the rock and soil under each place, which is why the Central Weather Administration measures the intensity in every town with instruments.
這是示例，不是預測。三個地震是虛構的；把規模和距離換算成搖晃程度的規則，是為了這一課選的簡單公式；台灣的輪廓也是簡化的。真的搖晃不會照著整齊的圓圈傳出去：它跟每個地方底下的岩石和土壤有關，所以中央氣象署是用儀器在各個鄉鎮實際量出震度。
Map and model drawn by My Culture Connect as a teaching diagram. The definitions and the intensity table follow the Central Weather Administration's “100 Questions About Earthquakes”, listed with the other sources at the bottom of this page. · 地圖與模型由人師教育協會自繪示意；定義與震度分級表依中央氣象署「地震百問」，與其他出處一起列在本頁最下方。
Reading · 英文閱讀
3
Unit 3: What Is the Difference Between Magnitude and Intensity?
A few minutes after an earthquake, the report appears on your phone. It might say: magnitude 6.5, depth 15 kilometers, intensity 5 Upper in Hualien, 4 in Taipei, 3 in Kaohsiung. That is a lot of numbers for one earthquake. Which one tells you how big it was?
地震過後幾分鐘，手機上就會跳出地震報告。上面可能寫著：規模 6.5、深度 15 公里，花蓮震度 5 強、台北 4 級、高雄 3 級。一個地震，怎麼有這麼多數字？到底哪一個是在說它有多大？
The magnitude does. Magnitude tells how much energy the earthquake released where it started, deep underground. One earthquake has only one magnitude. It is the same number whether you are in Hualien, in Kaohsiung, or on the other side of the world. In Chinese, magnitude is written without the word for “level”: we say magnitude 6.5, and nothing more.
是規模。規模說的是地震在它開始的地方（很深的地底下）放出了多少能量。同一個地震只有一個規模：不管你在花蓮、在高雄，還是在地球的另一邊，都是同一個數字。在中文裡，規模後面不加「級」：我們說「規模 6.5」，就這樣。
The steps on the magnitude scale are huge. An earthquake of magnitude 6 releases about 32 times as much energy as one of magnitude 5. A magnitude 7 releases about 1,000 times as much. That is why a 7 is a disaster while a 5 may only rattle the windows.
規模每差一個數字，差別非常大。規模 6 的地震放出的能量，大約是規模 5 的 32 倍；規模 7 大約是 1,000 倍。這就是為什麼規模 7 是一場災難，規模 5 卻可能只是讓窗戶響一響。
Intensity is different. It tells how hard the ground shook in one place. Close to the earthquake the shaking is strong, and farther away it is weaker. So one earthquake has many intensities, a different one for every town. Taiwan's scale has ten levels: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Lower, 5 Upper, 6 Lower, 6 Upper, and 7.
震度就不一樣了。它說的是某一個地方的地面搖得多厲害。離地震近，搖得強；離得遠，搖得弱。所以同一個地震有很多個震度，每個鄉鎮都不同。台灣的震度分成十個級別：0、1、2、3、4、5 弱、5 強、6 弱、6 強、7 級。
Think of a light bulb. The bulb has one brightness, and that is like the magnitude. But how bright it looks depends on where you stand. Close to the bulb the light is strong, and across the room it is dim. That is like the intensity.
想像一顆燈泡。燈泡本身只有一個亮度，這就像規模。可是它看起來有多亮，要看你站在哪裡：站在燈泡旁邊很亮，站在房間的另一頭就暗了。這就像震度。
Depth matters too. A shallow earthquake shakes the ground above it much harder than a deep one of the same magnitude. So when you read the next earthquake report, look at three things: the magnitude, the depth, and the intensity where you are. The last one tells you what your own house felt.
深度也很重要。同樣的規模，淺的地震會讓正上方的地面搖得比深的地震厲害得多。所以下次看地震報告的時候，注意三件事：規模、深度，還有你所在地方的震度。最後這一個，說的才是你家感受到的搖晃。
Read aloud · 課文朗讀
Questions · 閱讀理解
What does magnitude tell us?
How much energy the earthquake released. One earthquake has only one magnitude, the same everywhere.
Why does one earthquake have many different intensities?
Because intensity tells how hard the ground shook in one place. Places close to the earthquake shake harder than places far away.
Why does the depth of an earthquake matter?
A shallow earthquake shakes the ground above it much harder than a deep one of the same magnitude.
Words & Phrases · 生字及片語
magnitude(n.)規模The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.5.這次地震的規模是 6.5。intensity(n.)震度；強度The intensity in our town was 4.我們鎮上的震度是 4 級。energy(n.)能量A big earthquake releases a huge amount of energy.大地震會放出非常大的能量。epicenter(n.)震央The epicenter was off the east coast.震央在東部外海。depth(n.)深度What is the depth of this pool?這個游泳池有多深？shallow(adj.)淺的The water is shallow here. You can stand up.這裡的水很淺，你可以站起來。distance(n.)距離The distance from my house to school is two kilometers.我家到學校的距離是兩公里。report(n.)報告We read the weather report every morning.我們每天早上都看氣象報告。
Quick Check · 小測驗
1. How many magnitudes does one earthquake have?
2. What does intensity tell you?
3. A magnitude 6 earthquake releases about how much more energy than a magnitude 5?
4. Where is the intensity usually highest?
5. Which earthquake shakes the ground above it harder?
Read the Report · 讀懂地震報告
What does each intensity level feel like? 每一級震度是什麼感覺？
Taiwan's intensity scale has ten levels. The Central Weather Administration describes each one by what people feel and what happens indoors and outdoors. Press a level and read it. Which is the strongest you remember feeling?
台灣的震度分成十個級別。中央氣象署用「人的感受」和「屋內、屋外發生什麼事」來描述每一級。按一個級別讀讀看。你記得自己感受過最強的是哪一級？
Choose a level · 選一個級別
What people feel · 人的感受
Indoors · 屋內情形
Outdoors · 屋外情形
The Chinese text is the Central Weather Administration's own intensity table. The English is our translation, shortened a little. Today the level for each town is worked out from instrument readings, not from what people say they felt.中文是中央氣象署「地震震度分級表」的原文；英文是本站的翻譯，稍微縮短了一些。現在各地的震度是用儀器量到的數值算出來的，不是靠大家說感覺如何。
Intensity · 震度
Remember: intensity is given in levels, and it is different in every town. Magnitude is one number for the whole earthquake.記得：震度要說「幾級」，而且每個鄉鎮都不一樣。規模是整個地震只有一個數字，後面不加「級」。
Try It in the Model · 在模型裡試試
Four earthquakes to compare 比一比四個地震
In every case, look at the magnitude on the right: it changes only when you move the magnitude slider. The intensities change with everything.
每一種情況都注意看右邊的規模：只有拉規模滑桿的時候它才會變。震度則是什麼都會影響它。
Magnitude 7.3規模 7.3
Less than 3 more on the scale, but thousands of times the energy. Watch every column grow.
數字只多了不到 3，能量卻是好幾千倍。看每一根柱子都長高了。
Shallow: 10 km淺：10 公里
The start of the earthquake is close under the surface. The nearest city shakes hard.
地震開始的地方離地表很近，最近的城市搖得很厲害。
Deep: 90 km深：90 公里
The magnitude has not changed, but the nearest city now shakes less.
規模沒有變，可是最近的城市搖得比較小了。
Go Further · 延伸閱讀
Where the shaking comes from 搖晃是從哪裡來的
Earth and Weather · Lesson 2 · 地球與天氣 第二課Why Does Taiwan Have So Many Earthquakes?台灣為什麼地震這麼多？The fault that slips, the two kinds of waves, and the alert on your phone.滑動的斷層、兩種地震波，還有手機上的警報。Go to the lesson · 前往這一課 →Earth and Weather · Lesson 1 · 地球與天氣 第一課What Is Inside the Earth?地球裡面有什麼？The same waves that shake us also show us the inside of the planet.搖晃我們的那些波，也讓我們看見地球的內部。Go to the lesson · 前往這一課 →
Magnitude and Intensity by the Numbers · 規模和震度的數字
Six numbers for reading an earthquake report 讀地震報告用得到的六個數字
All from the Central Weather Administration.
全部來自中央氣象署。
1magnitude · 個規模
One earthquake has one magnitude. It does not change from place to place.一個地震只有一個規模，不會因為地點不同而改變。
32×the energy · 倍的能量
Each step of 1 in magnitude means about 32 times as much energy.規模每增加 1，能量大約是 32 倍。
10levels · 個級別
Taiwan's intensity scale: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Lower, 5 Upper, 6 Lower, 6 Upper, 7.台灣的震度分級：0、1、2、3、4、5 弱、5 強、6 弱、6 強、7 級。
3×the acceleration · 倍的加速度
One level higher in intensity means the ground is being pushed about three times as hard.震度每高 1 級，地面被推的力道（加速度）大約是 3 倍。
2.5to be felt · 才感覺得到
People usually begin to feel an earthquake when its magnitude is about 2.5 or more.一般來說，規模大約 2.5 以上，人才會感覺到地震。
7.0a large earthquake · 大地震
Earthquakes of magnitude 7 or more are called large. Their waves can be recorded all over the world.規模 7 以上叫做大地震，全世界的地震站都收得到它的波。
Stories About Measuring Earthquakes · 測量地震的故事
A scale from 1935, two numbers for one earthquake, lines on a map, and the missing word 1935 年的量尺、一個地震兩個數字、地圖上的線，還有那個不該有的字
Four things worth knowing the next time you read a report.
下次看地震報告的時候，值得知道的四件事。
1935
Richter's scale芮氏的量尺
The magnitude scale most people know was created in 1935 by the American scientist Charles Richter. He measured the largest swing recorded by a standard instrument and took its logarithm, so each whole number means ten times the swing. That is why the numbers look small even when the earthquakes are huge.
大家最熟悉的地震規模，是美國科學家芮氏（Charles Richter）在 1935 年創立的。他量的是標準地震儀記錄到的最大振幅，再取對數，所以數字每加 1，振幅就是 10 倍。這也是為什麼地震明明很大，數字看起來卻很小。
7.3 · 7.7
Two numbers for one earthquake一個地震，兩個數字
You may see the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake listed as 7.3 in Taiwan and 7.7 abroad. Neither is wrong. There are several ways to work out a magnitude, and they give slightly different numbers for the same energy. The Central Weather Administration compares it to height: 1.78 meters and 178 centimeters are the same person.
1999 年的集集大地震，在台灣常寫成規模 7.3，國外卻寫 7.7。兩個都沒有錯。計算規模有好幾種方法，同樣的能量算出來的數字會稍微不同。中央氣象署用身高來比喻：「1.78 公尺」和「178 公分」說的是同一個人。
The map · 地圖
Lines on a map地圖上的線
If you join up the places that felt the same intensity, you get lines around the epicenter. In theory they should be circles. On a real map they are uneven, because the rock and soil under each place change how the waves travel. When the intensity falls off quickly as you move away, the earthquake was shallow. When it falls off slowly, it was deep.
把震度相同的地方連起來，會在震央周圍畫出一圈一圈的線，叫做等震度線。理論上應該是圓的；可是真的地圖上，它們彎彎曲曲，因為每個地方底下的岩石和土壤，會改變地震波的傳法。震度往外減得很快，代表地震很淺；減得慢，代表地震很深。
規模 6.5
The missing word那個不該有的字
In Chinese-language news you sometimes hear “magnitude 6.5 levels.” The Central Weather Administration points out that this mixes up two ideas. Magnitude stands for total energy and has no unit. Only intensity is counted in levels. The correct way to say it is: magnitude 6.5, greatest intensity level 4.
新聞裡有時候會聽到「規模 6.5 級」。中央氣象署特別提醒，這是把兩個觀念搞混了。規模代表總能量，沒有單位；只有震度才說「級」。正確的說法是：「規模 6.5，最大震度 4 級」。
Myth vs. Fact · 常見迷思
Four things people get wrong 四個常見的誤會
✗ Myth · 迷思The magnitude is higher in the town that shook the most.搖得最厲害的地方，規模比較大。
✓ Fact · 事實The magnitude is the same everywhere. What is higher in that town is the intensity.規模到哪裡都一樣。那個地方比較大的是震度。
✗ Myth · 迷思A magnitude 6 is only a little bigger than a magnitude 5.規模 6 只比規模 5 大一點點。
✓ Fact · 事實It releases about 32 times as much energy.它放出的能量大約是 32 倍。
✗ Myth · 迷思A bigger magnitude always means a worse disaster.規模越大，災情一定越嚴重。
✓ Fact · 事實Usually, but not always. It also depends on how deep the earthquake is, how far away people live, and how strong the buildings are.通常是，但不一定。還要看地震多深、離人住的地方多遠，以及房子耐不耐震。
✗ Myth · 迷思A deep earthquake is more dangerous than a shallow one.深的地震比淺的地震危險。
✓ Fact · 事實It is the other way around. For the same magnitude, the shallower the earthquake, the harder it shakes the surface.正好相反。同樣的規模，震源越淺，對地表的破壞力越大。
Remember It · 記憶口訣
Magnitude and intensity in a sentence 一句話記住規模和震度
Magnitude: one number規模：一個數字
How much energy, the same everywhere.
放出多少能量，到哪裡都一樣。
Intensity: many numbers震度：很多個數字
How hard it shook where you are.
你所在的地方搖得多厲害。
The bulb and the room燈泡和房間
One brightness, but it looks different from every corner.
亮度只有一個，每個角落看起來卻不一樣。
Shallow shakes harder越淺搖得越厲害
Always check the depth.
記得看深度。
Be Ready · 防災要點
When the report says 4 or higher 震度 4 級以上的時候
- Do not wait for the report. When the shaking starts, protect your head and neck at once: drop, take cover, and hold on.不要等報告出來。一開始搖，就馬上保護頭部和頸部：趴下、掩護、穩住。
- From level 4 up, things that are not fixed down may fall, and from level 5 furniture may move or tip over. So stay under cover until the shaking stops.震度 4 級以上，沒有固定的東西可能掉下來；5 級以上，家具可能移動或翻倒。所以要躲好，等搖晃停了再出來。
- Stay away from cliffs and steep slopes, where rocks may fall.遠離山崖和陡坡，那裡可能有落石。
These points follow Taiwan's official guidance and the official intensity table: National Fire Agency, Fire Prevention and Disaster Education Hall ↗以上要點依內政部消防署「消防防災館」與中央氣象署「地震震度分級表」。
Classroom Activity 1 · 課堂活動一
One Sound, Many Listeners 一個聲音，很多個聽眾
You need · 準備材料
- A drum, or a thick book to drop flat on a desk一面鼓，或是一本可以平平摔在桌上的厚書
- A long corridor or the playground, and paper and pencils一條長走廊或操場，還有紙和鉛筆
Steps · 步驟
- Students stand at 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 big steps from the drum.同學分別站在離鼓 2、5、10、20、40 大步的地方。
- One student hits the drum once. Everyone writes down how loud it sounded, from 0 (nothing) to 5 (very loud).一位同學敲一下鼓。每個人寫下聽起來有多大聲：從 0（聽不到）到 5（非常大聲）。
- Hit the drum again, harder, and write down the numbers again.再敲一次，這次用力一點，再寫一次數字。
- Talk about it: what was the same for everyone, and what was different? Which part is like magnitude, and which is like intensity?討論：什麼是每個人都一樣的？什麼是不一樣的？哪個部分像規模，哪個部分像震度？
How hard the drum was hit is the magnitude: one hit, one strength. What each student heard is the intensity.
鼓被敲得多用力是「規模」：敲一下，只有一個力道。每位同學聽到的大小聲是「震度」。
Classroom Activity 2 · 課堂活動二
Be the Reporter 我是地震播報員
You need · 準備材料
- The model on this page, set to any earthquake you like這一頁的模型，設成任何一個你喜歡的地震
- Paper, a pencil, and the intensity table紙、鉛筆和震度分級表
Steps · 步驟
- Choose a place, a magnitude, and a depth in the model. Write them down.在模型裡選一個地點、一個規模和一個深度，寫下來。
- Write an earthquake report in English: the magnitude, the depth, and the intensity in three cities.用英文寫一則地震報告：規模、深度，還有三個城市的震度。
- Use the intensity table to add one sentence about what people in each city probably felt.參考震度分級表，替每個城市加一句話，說明那裡的人大概有什麼感覺。
- Read your report to the class. The others check: did you say “magnitude” once and “intensity” for each city?把報告唸給全班聽。其他人檢查：你是不是只說了一次「規模」，而每個城市各說了一次「震度」？
Useful sentences: “The earthquake had a magnitude of …” and “The intensity in … was level ….”
好用的句子：“The earthquake had a magnitude of …”、“The intensity in … was level ….”
Sources · 資料出處
Facts and numbers on this page were checked against these sources (October 2026). · 本頁的事實與數字依下列資料查證（2026 年 10 月）。
- Magnitude describes the total energy released at the source; one earthquake has a single magnitude; it has no unit and is not given in “levels”; each step of 1 means 10 times the amplitude and about 32 times the energy規模依震源釋放的總能量而定；同一地震規模只有一個值；規模無單位、不加「級」；每增加 1，振幅 10 倍、能量約 32 倍中央氣象署 地震百問 25 ↗
- The Richter scale, created by Richter in 1935 from the logarithm of the largest recorded amplitude芮氏規模：1935 年芮氏所創，取最大振幅的對數中央氣象署 地震百問 26 ↗
- The Richter scale was introduced by Charles Richter in 1935芮氏規模由 Charles Richter 於 1935 年提出Wikipedia, “Richter scale” ↗
- Different magnitude scales give different values for the same earthquake; the Chi-Chi earthquake is 7.3 on the Richter scale and 7.7 as moment magnitude; the comparison to 1.78 m and 178 cm不同的規模算法數值不同；集集大地震芮氏規模 7.3、地震矩規模 7.7；「1.78 公尺與 178 公分」的比喻中央氣象署 地震百問 27 ↗
- Magnitude and energy: one step is about 32 times, two steps 1,000 times規模與能量：差 1 約 32 倍，差 2 為 1,000 倍中央氣象署 地震百問 29 ↗
- A larger magnitude usually means more damage, but depth, distance, and the strength of buildings also matter規模愈大災害通常愈大，但也與震源深度、震央距離、建築耐震力有關中央氣象署 地震百問 30 ↗
- Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more can be felt; those of 7.0 or more are recorded all over the world規模 2.5 以上人體可察覺；7.0 以上全世界的地震站都能收錄中央氣象署 地震百問 31 ↗
- Size classes: under 3.0 micro, 3.0 to 5.0 small, 5.0 to 7.0 moderate, 7.0 and above large規模分類：小於 3.0 微小、3.0–5.0 小、5.0–7.0 中、7.0 以上大地震中央氣象署 地震百問 33 ↗
- Intensity is how strongly people feel the shaking or how much things are damaged in one place; the official intensity table with its ten levels and descriptions震度是地面上的人感受到振動的激烈程度或物體受破壞的程度；地震震度分級表（十個級別與各級描述）中央氣象署 地震百問 35 ↗
- Intensity and acceleration: log α = I/2 − 0.6, so one level is about 3 times the acceleration震度與加速度：log α = I／2 − 0.6，震度差 1 級，加速度約差 3 倍中央氣象署 地震百問 36 ↗
- Lines of equal intensity: circles in theory, irregular in practice because of the geology等震度線：理論上是同心圓，實際上受地質影響呈不規則狀中央氣象署 地震百問 37 ↗
- If intensity falls off quickly away from the maximum, the source is shallow; if slowly, it is deep震度自最大值向外迅速遞減則震源較淺，緩慢遞減則較深中央氣象署 地震百問 39 ↗
- For the same magnitude, the shallower the source, the greater the damage at the surface同一規模下，震源深度越淺，對地表的破壞力越大中央氣象署 地震百問 14 ↗
- Protect your head and neck; drop, cover, and hold on保護頭部、頸部；趴下、掩護、穩住內政部消防署 消防防災館「地震了！該怎麼辦？」 ↗
- Do not shelter near cliffs; coastal residents should move to high ground不可躲在山崖附近；沿海居民應疏遷至高地中央氣象署 地震百問 96 ↗