what is difference between magnitude and intesity of an earthquake?

richter scale - earthquake readings
@BART78 (2927)
Canada
January 16, 2010 2:09am CST
we all heard what strike haiti and every people in town talks about it, i've notice a lot of people and experts mentioned about magnitude and intensity, so i was wondering are there any difference of the two or they just the same? could someone make clarification on this...i really appreciate it..
2 responses
ajayrocks111
@ajayrocks111 (390)
• India
16 Jan 10
Hi Bart.. there is no difference between earth magnitude and intensity. Both are of same meaning
BART78
@BART78 (2927)
• Canada
16 Jan 10
alright, it's like calling your wife her real name rather than her romantic name?
masay7
@masay7 (89)
• Gambia
17 Jan 10
well, im not an expert here but i think, the difference lies in the scale of the earthquake, and impact level... the magnitute is the range of the impact, and the intensity is the impact of the earthquake. i hope i got it
nocturn98
@nocturn98 (956)
• Venezuela
16 Jan 10
Magnitude is the scale of the amount of shaking that happens at the source of the earthquake. Intensity is the scale of the amount of shaking at a particular location. Different areas will have different intensities of an earthquake.
BART78
@BART78 (2927)
• Canada
16 Jan 10
that's nice to know...thanks!