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VESTIGATION:
VOLCANOES
IN
Watch a volcanic eruption!
What is a volcano?
Volcanoes are vents in the Earth’s surface where gases, magma, and debris are released from Earth’s inner surface.
Vocabulary To Know:
Volcano- opening in Earth’s crust that can erupt or explode lava
Magma- molten rock that is stored in Earth’s crust; becomes lava once it is released
Lava- hot, liquid rock that is released from a volcano
Gas- a state of matter that has no definite shape or volume
Debris- scattered pieces of waste or remains
Where in the world are volcanoes?
Mount St. Helens (8,366 ft)
Mount Vesuvius (4,203 ft)
Did you know?
90% of volcanoes on the Earth can be found in the Ring of Fire.
Why do volcanoes erupt?
Volcanic eruptions are a natural way for the Earth to cool off by releasing heat and pressure from the inside of Earth.
How do volcanoes erupt?
Magma bubbles to form gases. Then, those gas bubbles exert pressure that bring magma up to the surface and out into the air.
Volcanoes can destroy land or harden to create new land.
Fun Facts
1. Volcanoes can be active or dormant. An active volcano is one that can erupt at any time. A dormant volcano has not erupted in at least 10,000 years.
2. There are more than 1,500 active volcanoes on Earth. At least 80 of those are under water!
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