Science Focus: A Volcanic Eruption

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A volcanoes are one of those beautiful natural occurrence even though they can create so much devastation if they erupt. But do you know what different types of volcanoes we find in nature?

What is a volcano?

A volcanoe is caused by an opening in the surface either on a planet or the moon that allows material, magma, that is warmer than its surroundings to push through the surface. When these materials escapes through the surface an eruption is caused.

Types of volcano

Within the volcano classification we have three main classifications.

1. Composite volcanoes

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This type of volcano consists of different layers of solid lava flow that is mixed with layers of other rocks. They are also known as straovolcanoes.

How composite volcanoes are formed.

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2. Shield volcanoes

A shield volcano is built almost entirely from fluid lava vents. This is because when it is viewed from above you can see how massive and imposing they are, just like a warrior's shield.
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How a shield volcano is formed.

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3. Cinder Cone Volcanoes

This type of volcano doesn't have any horizontal layers. It instead have a steep conical hill of tephra or otherwise known as volcanic debris that accumulates around and downwind from the vent.

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How a cinder cone volcano is formed.

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Science activity (Make a volcano erupt)

I don't know how many times we (my son and husband) has done this experiment, but let's just say I always buy additional baking soda and vinegar for their experiments.

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You will need the following:

1. Plastic cup
2. Water
3. 3-4 tablespoons of baking soda (4-6 tablespoons will make 2-3 eruptions)
4. 1 teaspoon of dish soap
5. half an ounce or 2 ounces of washable paint. (This will depend on the intensity of the color you desire.
6. 1 cup of vinegar per eruption.

Instructions:

1. Find an area outside that has pea gravel, sand or dirt.
2. Let the children make a mound that will be the place where the cup is put on top.
3. Put the water inside the plastic up. Fill it about 2/3 full.
4. Add the baking soda, dish soap and washable paint.
5. Put the cup on top of the mound the children made.
6. Stir the ingredients once more.
7. Now add the vinegar and see how the volcano erupts.

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