Why Volcanoes Erupt

Worksheet Description

Volcanoes are like giant mountains with a fiery surprise hidden inside! When a volcano erupts, it means it’s letting out hot, melted rock, called magma, from deep inside the Earth. Scientists have a running theory about why volcanoes erupt, and it’s a fascinating tale of the Earth’s inner workings.

Deep inside the Earth, there is a layer called the mantle. The mantle is so hot that some of the rock there turns into a thick, gooey substance called magma. Sometimes, this magma starts to rise towards the Earth’s surface, like a balloon filling with air. As the magma moves upward, it finds a crack or weak spot in the Earth’s crust, which is the hard outer layer of our planet.

When the magma finds a way to the surface, it creates a volcano. The opening at the top of the volcano is called a vent. Once the magma reaches the vent, it bursts out with tremendous force, shooting hot ash, rocks, and lava into the air. This is what we call a volcanic eruption.