What's the Difference Between a Lava and a Magma?

Imagine magma as the hot, gooey chocolate inside a candy bar, it's still in the wrapper. When that candy melts and starts to flow out of the wrapper, like on a hot day, it becomes lava. Magma is deep underground, while lava is what we see when it comes out during a volcanic eruption.

Take the quiz →

Examples

Magma is like hot chocolate in a thermos, still inside the container; lava is when it spills out onto the table.
Imagine magma as a cake mix before you bake it, and lava is the cake after it comes out of the oven.
Magma stays underground, but lava is what flows across the ground during an eruption.

Ask a question

Discussion

Recent activity

Categories: Science · volcanoes,geology,earth science