Volcanic Construction (or Destruction!)
A 5 th Grade Science Fair Project Re-Visited
Introduction
You may remember this cliché science fair project; seeing a giant conical-shaped mountain that was maybe surrounded by plants and shrubbery. Suddenly the eruption would occur, and a rush of red liquid would pour out of the top of the volcano.
This classic experiment is what you are going to be replicating today. The purpose of this experiment is to take this knowledge you have gathered over the past few days into consideration when you are constructing your own volcanoes. By doing so you should have a better understanding of what is happening inside the volcano you are constructing, and why volcanic eruptions occur in real life.
Remember, volcanoes are either found on a tectonic plate boundary (divergent or convergent) or on a hotspot, where magma is close to the surface. When there is a build-up of pressure, magma surges upward out of the volcano. In addition to magma (which becomes lava upon reaching Earth’s surface), a cloud of pyroclastic ash and sulfur dioxide (SO
2
) gas is released.
Materials
Modeling clay, test tube, baking soda, graduated cylinder, vinegar, food coloring (optional)
Procedure
1.
If necessary, rinse your modeling clay with water to moisten it. The clay dries if left out for too long, so if you are in a later period you may need to do this step first.
2.
Begin constructing your volcano with modeling clay. Be sure that your volcano is high enough to fit your entire test tube inside. a.
Feel free to be creative in the construction of your volcano. You can use Play-Doh to construct scenery around the volcano (plants, village, etc) that can be destroyed when your volcano erupts.
3.
Fill your test tube one tablespoon of baking soda.
4.
Insert your test tube into the center of your volcano until the tube reaches the bottom. MAKE SURE THE OPENING OF THE
TUBE IS NOT BLOCKED BY THE MODELING CLAY
5.
Pour 10mL of vinegar into your graduated cylinder. This is what you will be pouring into your test tube once it is loaded in the volcano. For the second trial of your experiment you will be using 15 mL of vinegar to compare the size of the eruption.
6.
Finally, pour the vinegar into the test tube and watch what happens. It’ll hopefully be a sight to see.
Pre-Laboratory Questions
1.
What is the purpose of this experiment?
2.
Draw a volcano on your graph paper. Label each of the following: MAGMA CHAMBER, VENT, LAVA, CONDUIT, PYROCLASTIC
ASH, CRATER
3.
What are the three major components of a volcano that are released upon its eruption? Which of the three is the most harmful to humans and why?
4.
Name two of the three possible ways that a volcano can be triggered.
5.
What does the test tube represent in this experiment? How do you know?
Hypothesis
How do you think the volume of vinegar will affect the size of your volcanic eruption (is more vinegar or less vinegar better?)? Why?
Data Table
Amount of Vinegar (mL)
Size of Eruption (small, medium, large)
Post-Laboratory Questions
10 mL 15mL
1.
Which of the following is the control in the experiment, the vinegar or the baking soda? How do you know?
2.
How did the amount of vinegar affect the size of the eruption?
3.
Measure how tall your volcano was using a ruler. How do you think the size of your volcano affects the size of your eruption?
4.
Do you think your volcanic eruption is an example of a dormant or active volcano? Why do you think so?