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by wickedwillie on March 26th, 2004

wickedwillie

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What is the difference between 'magma' and 'lava'?

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Answers. 11 helpful answers below.

  • by Nelson L. Squeeko on March 29th, 2007

    Nelson L. Squeeko

    I believe Magma is when it is below the earths surface, and Lava when it breaches the surface. Just like Meteor and Meteorite

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  • by Steve Ryan on March 26th, 2004

    Steve Ryan

    Magma is molten rock that is within the ground;
    Lava is molten rock that has erupted onto the ground surface.

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  • by dancerlancer on May 12th, 2008

    dancerlancer

    What is the difference between lava and Magma?

    Magma is liquid rock inside a volcano.

    Lava is liquid rock (magma) that flows out of a volcano. Fresh lava ranges from 1,300° to 2,200° F (700° to 1,200° C) in temperature and glows red hot to white hot as it flows

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  • by branciforte3241 on March 29th, 2007

    branciforte3241

    Because if we didn't have differant words for differant things, then we would be left with only one word to describe the entire world.

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  • by Mekonnen on October 5th, 2008

    Mekonnen

    No difference. The molten rock beneth the earth's crust is MAGMA; and that molten rock erupted is LAVA.

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  • by Trevor_R2164 on November 18th, 2010

    Trevor_R2164

    There actually IS A DIFFERENCE between magma and lava other than location.
    Underground, MAGMA has dissolved gases, such as water and carbon dioxide.
    As lava leaves the ground, these gases escape (are boiled off), becoming lava.

    Magma is like a sealed can of soda. Lava is like flat soda without the bubbles.

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  • by awesome anh on November 24th, 2008

    awesome anh

    Fast and Easy Magna is In the Earth while lava is come out from the volcano .
    It is the same thing but they make name for it under the ground and when it went out .
    English Is Crazy !!!

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  • by Anonymous on November 24th, 2008

    Anonymous

    Yeah.... like what they said

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  • by TAPriceCTR s son is wearing his COAT on November 24th, 2008

    TAPriceCTR s son is wearing his COAT

    just it's location.

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  • by iwnit on November 24th, 2008

    iwnit

    1) "The main concept for the students to learn is that hot molten rock is called magma when it is inside the Earth, and that when the hot molten rock reaches the surface of the Earth it is called lava. They should also learn the other parts of a volcano described above.

    Ask the children if there are any major chemical differences between magma and lava from the same volcano. The answer is "no." Geologists give magma and lava separate names to signify whether the molten rock is located inside or outside of the earth. The difference between magma and lava is apparent when the molten rock cools. When magma cools inside the Earth, it has large minerals, because it cools slowly. Lava has very small minerals because it cools quickly.

    To help the students understand the difference in appearance between lava and magma, use an analog that they can relate to. For example, an unfrosted chocolate cake looks different on the inside than on the outside. The inside of the cake is airy and full of holes, this can be related to magma. The outside of the cake is solid and dry, this can be related to lava. However, even though the inside and outside appear different, they both come from the same recipe, as did both the magma and lava."
    Source and further information:
    http://msnucleus.org/membership/html/k-6/pt/volcanoes/2/ptv2_1a.html


    2) "What is magma and lava?
    Magma is molten rock. In other words melted rock. When magma finally reaches to the earth’s surface it mixes in with steam and gas that is around it and it turns into lava. A lot of people don’t know the difference between magma and lava, but there is it is just that it can’t be seen with the naked eye. Lava is slightly cooler than magma, glows a different color, and it is made up of different substances (because of the steam and gas added to it). When gas and steam was mixed in with magma it changed some chemicals."
    Source and further information:
    http://www.angelfire.com/vamp/lava/


    3) Further information:
    - "Categorizing the Various Forms of this Volcanic Liquid"
    http://volcanology.suite101.com/article.cfm/scientific_classification_of_lava
    - "What is difference between lava and magma?"
    http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_difference_between_lava_and_magma
    - "What is the difference between magma and lava?"
    http://en.allexperts.com/q/Geology-1359/2-questions-rock-formation.htm
    - "What is the difference between magma and lava?"
    http://www.mvo.ms/questions.htm
    - "How are magma and lava different other than one being underground and aboveground?"
    http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/79351

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  • by brendan8942 on January 6th, 2010

    brendan8942

    magma is when molten rock is below the surface and lava is when it is above

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