Inside a Volcano
Understand the inside of a volcano: magma is hot melted rock underground, lava is the same material after it reaches the surface, and volcanoes have a magma chamber, vent, and crater
What a learner can do afterwards
- Explain that magma is melted rock underground and lava is the same material above ground
- Name the magma chamber, vent, and crater from descriptions of each part
- Describe the path magma takes from underground to the surface during an eruption
1 · Read
Magma is hot melted rock underground. It can also contain crystals and gas. When melted rock reaches Earth's surface, we call it lava. These names describe where the melted rock is, not two separate rock types. As magma rises, gas can bubble out and escape. Magma becoming lava does not mean that only its name changes.
Magma collects in an underground storage area called a magma chamber. A conduit is a passage through rock that carries magma upward. A vent is the opening where magma reaches the surface. A crater is a bowl-shaped hollow that can surround a vent. This example shows one route. Volcanoes can also have openings on their sides.
Magma can lose gas as it rises. Cooling lava can harden into solid rock.
Chambers store magma. Vents let it out. Craters are hollows. Erupted magma is lava.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.