• Question: What makes a volcano erupt?

    Asked by Periodictable.com/cheese to Dan, Jennifer, Luke, Martin, sakshisharda on 11 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Luke Williams

      Luke Williams answered on 11 Mar 2018:

      In the end, it is all about pressure. The pool of magma (lava underground is called magma, don’t ask me why!), tries to get above ground. The rock covering it stops it from coming out. Eventually, as more and more magma pours in, the pressure gets too much and BOOM.

      In case you were wondering where the magma comes from – it is rock that has melted underground because it is so hot.

    • Photo: Martin Lindley

      Martin Lindley answered on 14 Mar 2018:

      molten magma 🙂

      rocks so hot they melt under the surface of the earth

      that creates pressure (like a kettle boiling) and boom it erupts

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