Volcanoes look beautiful, but they can also be powerful and dangerous.
A volcano erupts when hot melted rock, called magma, rises to the surface. Pressure builds up, and the magma explodes out of the opening.
Volcanoes can create new land, change weather for a short time, and help scientists learn about Earth’s inside.
Volcanoes show us how active our planet really is.
Vocabulary
volcano, magma, pressure, eruption, surface, explode, lava, gas, ash, land
IB Thinking Questions
- Why does pressure make a volcano erupt?
- How can a volcano help create new land?
- What are some dangers of volcanic eruptions?
