- Scientists study why some volcanoes stay calm at times.
- Magma deep underground can have a lot of gas.
- Gas in magma makes many small bubbles form quickly.
- Many bubbles can make eruptions explode very quickly.
- Other bubbles form because of shear near the walls.
- Shear means different flow speed between centre and walls.
- Bubbles can join and make channels for gas to escape.
- Channels let gas escape so magma flows calmly out.
Difficult words
- volcano — A mountain that can erupt with lava.volcanoes
- explode — To burst suddenly with force.exploding
- magma — Hot liquid rock inside the Earth.
- bubble — A small round ball of gas in liquid.bubbles
- pressure — The force on something from all sides.
- researcher — A person who studies or investigates.Researchers
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What do you think about volcanoes?
- Have you seen a volcano?
- Why is it important to study eruptions?
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