How Does a Volcano Actually Erupt?

A volcano erupts when pressure builds up inside the Earth and then suddenly escapes. Imagine a bottle of soda with a lid on it, if you shake it up, the bubbles can’t escape, but when the lid pops off, all that fizz comes rushing out in one big burst! The Earth’s lava is like that fizzy soda, and the volcano is the lid.

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Examples

  1. A soda bottle popping when shaken is like a volcano erupting.
  2. A pressure cooker releasing steam is similar to a volcano letting out gas and lava.
  3. When a balloon pops, it's like the rock breaking during an eruption.

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