How Does a Volcano Erupt So Suddenly?

Volcanoes erupt suddenly when pressure builds up inside the Earth. Think of it like a bottle of soda, if you shake it and then open it quickly, it explodes all over! Inside the Earth, hot gases and melted rock are trapped under layers of solid rock. When the pressure becomes too much, everything bursts out in a big eruption.

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Examples

  1. A soda bottle shaken and opened quickly bursts out like a volcano.
  2. A pressure cooker exploding when the lid is lifted too fast resembles a volcanic eruption.
  3. A balloon filled with air suddenly popping shows how pressure can cause an explosion.

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