Question

Explain how the viscosity of lava affects lava flows. Your answer must include:

a) Definition of viscosity: The measure of a fluid's resistance to flow.
b) Description of the link between composition and viscosity: Silica content is crucial; higher silica increases viscosity.
c) Connection between composition and volcano type: High silica leads to explosive volcanoes, low silica to passive ones.
d) Style of lava flow likely to form: High viscosity contributes to explosive lava flows.

Answer 1

Viscosity is the property of a fluid that measures its resistance to flow. In the case of lava, high viscosity contributes to explosive lava flows.

Step-by-step explanation:

Viscosity is the property of a fluid that measures its resistance to flow. Liquids with higher viscosity, such as honey or motor oil, flow slowly and have a high resistance compared to liquids with lower viscosity, such as water or gasoline, which flow more freely. In the case of lava, the viscosity of the molten rock affects the type of lava flow that is formed. High viscosity lava, such as that with high silica content, contributes to explosive lava flows that are characteristic of silica-rich and more explosive volcanoes.