Party time for volcanoes!

This is a good time of year to try 'Party time for volcanoes! How much force does it take to set off a party popper “volcano"?'

This activity measures the force required to burst a party popper; it provides a quantifiable way of measuring a gradually increasing stress, akin to the build up of pressure beneath a volcano, or the increases in stress as rock masses begin to move relative to each other. The variable results obtained relate to the prediction of volcanic eruptions or earthquakes - and it's great fun!

Many more Earthlearningideas about volcanic eruptions and earthquakes can be found on our website.