How to Make an Exploding Volcano

Creating an exploding volcano is fun and not that hard to do. It is best done around 4th grade for a science fair, although any age can try it for some laughs. This volcano is not just a model, but it also shows students what happens when a real volcano erupts. Watch as the lava spews out as it would in real life.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small empty plastic soda bottle
• Small piece of poster board
• Brown clay
• Piece of wood
• 1 package of mentos
• Coca cola
• Funnel
• Towel to clean up

1. Find a piece of flat wood that is at least 2 feet wide by 2 feet long. This is going to be your base. You will build your volcano on it.

2. Place your empty plastic bottle in the middle of the wood. You may want to use a little glue from a hot glue gun to get the bottle to stick to the wood so you can build your volcano around it a little easier.

3. Make a funnel out of your piece of poster board and wrap it around your soda bottle. To create the funnel, just roll up your poster board in a diagonal pattern. This will give your volcano shape.

4. Use your brown clay on top of the poster board funnel. Cover the poster board completely so that you now have something that resembles a volcano. Make sure the clay goes all the way to the top of the soda bottle, but not inside of the top. Also make sure the clay smooths out on to the wood to keep the whole thing in place.

5. Use a funnel in the top of your soda bottle to fill the bottle with Coke. Take the funnel out and set aside.

6. Get ready and be quick. Drop 3 Mentos in the soda bottle and step out of the way. You will now see a great explosion which you can call your exploding volcano.

Tips & Warnings

• For fun add a miniature village at the bottom of the volcano with people and see if any of them get harmed by the fake lava.
• You can also use vinegar and baking soda instead of Coke and Mentos.
• You may want to attempt this experiment outside only as it will be very messy and your teacher may not appreciate you messing up his or her classroom.

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