Science - Volcano Project

Hi Everyone!

Recently in science, we have been learning about the Earth's structure along with the continents and tectonic plates and space. To connect what we have been learning Mr Heath (our science teacher). Decided to let us make creative projects such as making volcanos, solar systems, and so on. We were required to make 2 -3 projects. I feel like all of us had chosen to create a volcano first since we were allowed to make it erupt with elephant toothpaste. In my group, I had Hope and Megan. 

Mt Tambora Volcano

Aim: 

• To create a volcano

Equipment:

• Newspaper 

• Glue 

• Bottle

• Cardboard 

• Paint - brown, red, green, orange

• Elephant toothpaste chemicals 

• Paintbrush

• Tray/container (you can just use a large piece of cardboard for your base)

• Red Food colouring 

Method:

- Get all equipment prepared. 

- Use a bottle as the structure for the volcano.

- Paper mache the outside for a more realistic design, make sure to leave out the opening of

the bottle. (This will be the opening of the volcano)

- Use a newspaper for rocks, by scrunching them into balls.

- Paint over the paper mache and rocks to add colour to your designs, create more definitions

and details using the paint. Such as lava leaking out and so on.

- Set up the elephant toothpaste inside the bottle. 

Video of the volcano eruption:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xzIKeNojJzsikHd-kw-mP91QB41sxFc2/view?usp=sharing

Research:

Mount Tambora, also known as Mount Tambora, is a volcanic mountain located on the

The northern coast of Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. 

Mount Tambora has been recorded as the largest volcanic eruption in our history which

killed tens of thousands of people. This catastrophic eruption took place in 1815 on April 5,

this is when people first started to notice. Tremors and pyroclastic flow became more obvious

5 days later a humongous blast blew apart the mountain. Earthquakes due to tectonic plates

created many catastrophic events for the people. As this volcano is located on an island,

tsunami's were also added to the blast and the pyroclastic flows. As all these natural disasters

followed each other, it killed at least 10,000 islanders. Following that, the precious homes of

35,000 more, the death toll is more than 71,00 so it's known as the deadliest volcano.

How do volcanoes form? 

Volcanoes form when two tectonic plates crash together. Describing it more specifically it is

when two plates move under one another. So when enough magma builds up in the magma

chambers. It will eventually force its way up to the surface and erupt, this is the main reason

for volcano eruptions. 

What is the difference between lava and magma? 

Magma consists of molten rock in other words semi-liquid rock which is stored in the earth crust.

While lava is magma that reaches the Earth's surface through a volcano vent. 

Conclusion

Our volcano project was a success with the appearance and the experiment. Our goal was to make

sure our volcano looked exactly or at least similar to the photo above. As Mr Heath, our science

teacher promised a prize for whoever achieved that goal. Not only did we need to be creative

and get the appearance of our volcano outstanding. But we also needed to get our

measurements right for the experiment. Luckily our experiment came out successfully which

you can see in the video. The appearance of our volcano was definitely a success since we

came in the first place. As promised Mr Heath had given us our prize which we were happy about.

Something different I would have done would be to concentrate more colour on the elephant

toothpaste. Since our ‘so-called’ lava appeared as pink. Another that I thought about if we ever do

this again would be to create a more realistic shaped volcano. We make it looks more like a volcano

frankly speaking our sort of looked like half a black rock. As it had a more dome-shaped figure, it was

also my first time doing paper mache. Overall the procedure of creating this project was

really enjoyable and fun.