Getting high grades is one of the major challenges of studying. Amongst the various subjects in school, science is truly one of the most interesting as it arouses the curiosities of students. As part of this class, teachers usually ask their pupils to make a model volcano. For those who wish to earn high grades in this all-important subject, it is good to learn how to make a model volcano.
Materials Needed
A model volcano is not that hard to do, but first you need to gather a number of important materials before you can get the job done. These include 3 to 4 packs of brown clay or any other kind of clay with similar color. You must also prepare a large dish or tray, which will serve as the base of the volcano. Furthermore, you also need an empty bottle of water, preferably one that can hold as much as 14 to 16-ounces of liquid.
This project cannot be complete without sodium bicarbonate or baking soda, regular vinegar and food coloring. When choosing the right color for this specific task, the top choices include red, green as well as yellow. Do not forget the measuring cup and funnel to make this project a lot easier to do.
Steps
Begin this project by placing the bottle on top of the dish or tray. It must be in upright position and must not contain anything inside to achieve the best results later on. Mold the clay all over the bottle until it acquires a conical form similar to volcanoes. Do not block the opening of the bottle because it serves a very important purpose.
After achieving the desired shape, put the funnel on top of the bottle opening and then slowly pour inside about 4 to 5 tablespoons of baking soda. Pour ½-cup of vinegar into the measuring cup. Gently add the food coloring and the mix thoroughly.
Once you are ready to present the model volcano to your teacher and classmates, pour the colored vinegar into the opening of the bottle. This will resemble the crater of a volcano. Keep yourself in a significant distance from the project to prevent untoward accidents from happening. After a short while, bubbles and overflow will come out of the small opening situated right on top. It will look like a crater with overflowing lava.
Additional Tips and Other Helpful Details
Before the class presentation, you can achieve a perfect experiment by trying it out first at home. You can use any kind of thick paper as a replacement for plastic funnel. Simply roll it until it acquires the shape of a funnel. Slowly pour the contents inside and into the bottle. Safety is very important, which is the primary reason why students must wear safety gloves and goggles whenever they conduct experiments. Do not forget to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after the experiment.
