eli5: How exactly does the Richter scale measure how strong an earthquake is? What happens at 10 (the top end, as Iunderstand it)?

Question

eli5: How exactly does the Richter scale measure how strong an earthquake is? What happens at 10 (the top end, as Iunderstand it)?

In: 2

Answer 1

Its logarithmic – each integer is 10x higher than the previous. You hit 10, the Earth is toast.

I exaggerate, and if we had a 10, the scale would have to go to 11, but that is unlikely.