Education
JELL-OŇ Magma!
Exploring the science
behind volcanoes.
Published: July / August 2008
A fun and simple experiment can help you help explain the science
behind volcanoes like Washington state’s Mount St. Helens and
Hawaii’s Mauna Loa.
Materials
Procedure
Step 1: Put a plate underneath the
drinking glass, because there will be overflow from the volcano.
Better yet, do this experiment in the kitchen sink for easiest
clean up.
Step 2: Fill your glass with vinegar.
Step 3: Add two teaspoons of gelatin powder to the glass. Stir to
mix.
Step 4: When you are ready to watch, quickly add two teaspoons of
baking soda to the glass.
Step 5: Watch your volcano erupt! Stirring the mixture once it
starts flowing should keep your “lava” flowing longer.
Take a moment to discuss the science
behind what is happening.
Volcanoes occur when there is a hole or break in the earth’s crust
that allows hot, liquid rock to escape in the form of a volcanic
eruption. Just like your gelatin volcano, liquid flows down the
sides of the volcano. In a real volcano this liquid is red-hot
lava, which is molten rock.
Volcanic eruptions are one of the earth’s most dramatic agents of
change. Powerful explosive eruptions drastically alter the
landscape around the volcano, while gases and ashes can impact air
quality hundreds of kilometers away. Scientists called
“volcanologists” study the changes that take place in lava flows
to understand and predict when and where volcanic eruptions will
occur.
Mad Science sparks the imagination
and curiosity of children by providing them with fun, entertaining
and educational activities that instill a clear understanding of
what science is really about and how it affects the world around
them. For more information about their Birthday Parties,
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