VOLCANO

What is a volcano?

A volcano is an opening on the Earth's surface where molten rocks and gases spill out. 

Definition:

molten rock: melted rock.

What is a volcanic eruption?

When a volcano erupts lava, ashes and gases spill out from the top.

Definition: 

Volcanic Eruption: When lava is forced out of a volcano.

What happens when a volcano erupts?

As the magma rises, bubbles start to form from the gases mixed in the magma.  The gases let out huge pressure.  This pressure helps to bring the magma to the surface and forces it into the air, sometimes to great heights!

It’s sort of like bubbles of gas trapped in a soda bottle.  Before you open a bottle of soda you don’t see many bubbles in it.  You don’t see many bubbles because the pressure keeps the bubbles dissolved into the soda.  But when you open the soda bottle the pressure is released (that’s why you hear a hissing noise) and the gas bubbles leave the soda.  If you shake up the soda bottle first, the soda gets pushed out by the bubbles of the gas as it rushes out. Just like a volcanic eruption!

Why is it important for volcanoes to erupt?

It is important for volcanoes to erupt because that is how the Earth releases pressure and heat.  The Earth needs volcanic eruptions to cool down.

What causes a volcano to erupt?

The Earth's crust is made up of huge slabs called plates, which fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. When the plates move under a volcano, it causes it to erupt. 

This is a picture of the plates under the Earth's surface that causes volcanoes to erupt. Watch the video to see how it all happens!

Why are volcanoes important?

Volcanoes are important because they help build more land on the Earth's surface.

Real Life Volcano Eruptions

On April 22, 2015 a volcano erupted in Chile at 3 am. Here are pictures of the damage the volcano made.

VIDEO:

Do you think it is dangerous to walk on the edge of a volcano? 

Fun Fact About Volcanoes!

Did you know that collisions between particles in some volcanic eruptions make an electrical charge? The electrical charge causes the lightening to strike while a volcano is erupting.  A volcanic lightening is also called a “dirty thunderstorm.”  Scientists are not sure why this happens in some volcanic eruptions.  But nobody really wants to get close enough to find out why!  The picture below is an example of volcanic lightening/dirty thunderstorm. 

The fusion of ash with flash!

Now that you learned about volcanoes, let's see what you remembered! Turn and talk with a partner. Have fun!

TURN AND TALK TIPS