The Richter scale ranges from 1 to 10 in increments of tenths and measures the amount of energy released by an earthquake, not the amount of damage or the effect on people. How many earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 does it take to release the same amount of energy released by one earthquake of magnitude 8.0? (Show your work)

step 1: nitrogen fixation- conversion of atmospheric no₂ into forms useful to plants by lightning, bacteria, and cyanobacteria.

step 2: nitrification-process of converting ammonia to nitrite or nitrate.

step 3: assimilation-plant roots absorb new form of nitrogen.

step 4: ammonification-conversion of organic nitrogen to ammonia by bacteria involved in decomposition.

step 5: denitrification-bacteria turns the decomposed matter back into n₂o, which is released into atmosphere; repeat cycle.