Vocabulary
A landform where molten, or liquid, rock spews from is called a ___________________.
Volcano
Liquid rock that flows OUTSIDE of a volcano is called ________________________.
Lava
Liquid rock from INSIDE of a volcano is called ________________________.
Magma
Name one of the famous exploding volcanoes that we learned about in class.
Mount St. Helens, Mt. Vesuvius
What U.S. state that is also a chain of islands would a find a LOT of non-exploding shield volcanoes?
Hawaii
Black volcanic rock that forms when lava cools and hardens is called __________________.
Basalt
A chain of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean is called _________________________.
The Ring of Fire
______________________ are part of the Earth's outermost layer, the crust. Volcanoes like to form where these meet.
Plates
How can I tell if a volcano might explode?
Answers will vary.
How can I tell if a volcano most likely will NOT explode?
Answers will vary.
__________ is a light colored volcanic rock that comes out of cone volcanoes.
Felsite
A _______________________ spews thin, runny lava and does NOT explode
Shield Volcano
A ______________________ has thick, pasty lava and DOES explode.
Cone Volcano
Is it possible for a volcano to erupt where you live?
If you live inside the Ring of Fire it is possible. However, if you live outside the Ring of Fire it is very unlikely for a volcano to erupt where you live.
Why might you find lava rocks or basalt so far away from the Ring of Fire?
There was likely a volcano where you found the basalt that was active in the ancient past.
The Ring of Fire forms a _______________ of volcanoes around the _____________ Ocean.
chain; Pacific
A _________________ volcano is one that is no longer active.
extinct
Active
List the three important characteristics of a cone volcano (type of rock, explodes/doesn't, type of lava).
Thick, pasty lava.
Explodes
Felsite Rocks
List the three important characteristics of a shield volcano (type of rock, explodes/doesn't, type of lava).
Thin, runny lava.
Gently spews/doesn't explode
Basalt
_________________ can rise when pieces of Earth's crust move apart.
Magma (will accept Lava)
_______________ builds up inside of cone volcanoes causing them to explode!
Gas
Why do cone volcanoes explode? Give a detailed answer.
Cone volcanoes explode because gases inside the volcano build up since they have trouble escaping. The gases have trouble escaping because the thick, pasty lava inside them traps gases.
Why do shield volcanoes NOT explode?
Shield volcanoes don't explode because gases inside the volcano can escape through the thin, runny lava.