Which of the following greatly affects how easily magma flows?*amount of silica in the magmadiameter of the ventsize of the craternumber of vents in a volcano
Question
Which of the following greatly affects how easily magma flows?
- amount of silica in the magma
- diameter of the vent
- size of the crater
- number of vents in a volcano
Solution
The amount of silica in the magma greatly affects how easily it flows. Here's why:
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Magma is a mixture of molten or semi-molten rock, volatiles and solids that is found beneath the surface of the Earth. The composition of magma can vary greatly, but it is largely made up of silica (SiO2), along with various amounts of other oxides.
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The amount of silica in the magma determines its viscosity, or resistance to flow. Magma with a high silica content has a high viscosity, meaning it flows less easily. This is because silica forms a sort of "network" within the magma, making it more difficult for the individual particles to move past each other.
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On the other hand, magma with a low silica content has a low viscosity, meaning it flows more easily. This is because there are fewer silica "networks" to impede the movement of particles.
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The diameter of the vent, size of the crater, and number of vents in a volcano can also affect how magma flows, but these are more related to the physical constraints of the volcano itself, rather than the properties of the magma.
So, while all of the options listed can affect how magma flows, the amount of silica in the magma is the most significant factor.
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