Create your own model volcano at home and watch it erupt.
Volcanoes erupt because magma, or heated rock, weighs less than the surrounding rock and pushes through the earth's surface until it shoots out the top of the volcano, producing lava. You can create your own homemade volcano and explosion with these simple science projects.
Plastic Bottle Volcano
Recycle a 2-liter plastic soda bottle and use it as the mountain for your volcano. Stand the bottle on a foil-lined baking sheet to catch the lava. Make or buy modeling clay and build the volcano mound around the bottle--do not get clay inside the bottle. Carefully pour a few tablespoons of baking soda, a few drops of dishwashing liquid and a half cup of water into the bottle. Squeeze a couple drops of red food coloring into a half cup of vinegar to make red lava. Pour the vinegar solution into the bottle and watch your lava bubble up to the surface.
Poster Board Volcano
To make a volcano out of poster board, you'll need a sheet of poster board, a glass Snapple or comparable beverage-sized bottle, scissors paint and masking tape. Cut a small 1-inch circle in the middle of the poster board. Cut a straight line from the circle to the bottom edge of the paper. Fold into a cone shape and tape the ends to secure. Place the volcano over the glass bottle and cut the paper, so that the paper opening is as big as the bottle opening. Tape the poster board to the bottle. Paint the desired color. When you are ready for the volcano to erupt, fill the bottle 3/4 full with water. Mix in a few drops of dishwashing liquid and a few tablespoons of baking soda. Pour a 1/2 cup of vinegar last and see the immediate eruption. This is a one-time use volcano, as the poster board materials will get wet and soggy after the first eruption.
Sand Volcano
Use dirt or playground sand and water to create this realistic looking volcano. To start, place an empty soup can on foil-lined cookie sheet. Mold wet sand around the soup can to form the volcano shape, but avoid getting sand in the can. Pour 1/4 cup of baking soda into the can. Create the lava mixture by combining a cup of water, 3/4 cup vinegar, half cup dishwashing liquid and a few drops of red and yellow food coloring. Pour this solution into the soup can and watch your volcano erupt.
Paper Mache Volcano
Practice your paper mache skills with this fun homemade volcano idea. Tape an empty 2-liter drink bottle to a flat piece of foil-covered cardboard. Tear several long strips of newspaper and make your paper mache solution (by mixing white glue with water). Dip the paper strips into the glue and apply directly onto the bottle, starting from the neck, down to the surface. Crumple up newspapers and place them around the bottle, so you can create a more realistic volcano shape. Continue applying the strips until you have your volcano. Let dry for 24 hours. Paint the volcano the desired colors. Let the paint dry completely. To make lava, fill the bottle halfway with warm water and mix in a few drops of dishwashing liquid, food coloring and about 1/4 cup baking soda. The lava will erupt as soon as you pour in 3/4 cup vinegar.
Tags: poster board, baking soda, dishwashing liquid, drops dishwashing, drops dishwashing liquid, food coloring