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Title
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Viscosity and Volcanoes
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Type
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Primary: Laboratory
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Operation
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Tectonic Fury
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Mission:
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Mission 4: Earth on the Move
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Print Page
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119
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Subjects
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Science | Earth and space science | Earth processes | Volcanoes | Science as inquiry | Science process skills | Analyzing data | Classifying | Collecting data | Communicating | Experimenting | Hypothesizing | Interpreting data | Measuring | Modeling | Observing | Predicting | Scientific habits of mind
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Grades
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5 | 6 | 7 | 8
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Keywords
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volcano, viscosity, magma, lava, cone, underwater volcano, Dr. Walter Smith, map, plate boundary, convergent boundary, divergent boundary, transform boundary, variable, shield, composite, cinder cone
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Duration
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00:30:00 (HH:MM:SS)
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Audience
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Teachers | Elementary Grades | Junior High
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Created On
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5/7/2010
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Copyright
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James L. Amos/ National Geographic Image Collection
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From: Tectonic Fury Mission 4: Earth on the Move (pp: 119) |
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Viscosity and Volcanoes In this lab, students will experiment with a variety of variables that affect the composition and viscosity of simulated magma. From their experiments, students will predict the effect of the magma viscosity on the volcano shape it would produce. Then, they will identify locations in the world where similar volcanoes exist and the plate boundaries with which they are associated. |
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Before Walter Smith began mapping the ocean floor, it was not known how many underwater volcanoes existed. Some people even speculated that there were not many volcanoes the size of the ones we see on the land. By using the data from satellites, Walter has found that there are many volcanoes throughout the oceans, and some of them are the same size as or larger than ones on land. Just as we see with land volcanoes, these ocean volcanoes have distinct shapes that are most likely associated with the magma which erupts from them and the plate boundaries with which they are associated.
In this activity, you will experiment with a variety of variables that affect the composition and viscosity of simulated magma. From your experiments, you will predict the effect of the magma viscosity on the volcano shape it would produce. Then, you will identify locations in the world where similar volcanoes exist and the plate boundaries with which they are associated.
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| Materials |
- Lab 3 Data Sheet
- sugar
- water
- thermometer
- graduated cylinder
- beaker
- sand
- soil mixtures
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- containers
- ruler
- masking tape
- large board of plastic or wood
- stopwatch
- supports
- food coloring
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| Lab Prep |
- Set up the elevated ramp and collection container as shown in the data sheet.
- Measure 25 mL of water. Add a few drops of food coloring and record the temperature. This represents Lava A.
- At the starting line, gently pour the 25 mL of water and time how long it takes for it to first get to the finish line. Repeat two more times, and average all three trials.
- Repeat step 3 with Lava B, composed of sugar and water, provided by your teacher.
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| Make Observations |
- Design an experiment to investigate how different variables, such as temperature or composition, affect viscosity or the flow of Lava B. Share your experiment with your instructor for approval.
- Conduct your experiment and report your findings to your class.
- Based on your data, predict which lava solution will flow furthest from the volcano before solidifying. Which lava would not flow very far before it solidifies? What is the relationship between lava viscosity and distance traveled?
- Based on the hypothetical distance of each solution or lava flow, describe the potential effects of higher or lower viscosity lava on the formation of a volcano after multiple eruptions.
- Which would produce a volcano with a large base and gentle slopes? Why?
- Which would produce a volcano with a smaller base and very steep slopes? Why?
- Analyze the pictures in the data sheet to determine whether the volcanoes may have high or low viscosity lava.
- Use the Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program online to find examples and locations of each type of volcano. Using the map of plate boundaries in the data sheet, determine which type of boundary each example is associated with, and which boundaries are more likely to produce each type of volcano.
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Journal Question
Describe the relationships between lava viscosity, volcano type, and plate boundaries. |
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