I WONDER - How Do Volcanoes Form?

Volcanoes form when Earth's tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma to surface. Hotspot volcanoes, a rarer type, occur when magma breaks through the crust in specific hot areas.

What is the primary cause of most volcanoes?

• Movement of Earth's crustal plates

• Erosion of mountains

• Tidal forces

• Meteor impacts

What happens when the Earth's crustal plates move apart?

• Oceans dry up

• Magma from the mantle leaks to the surface

• New mountains form

• Earthquakes occur

How are hotspot volcanoes different from regular volcanoes?

• They are found only underwater

• They are formed by the collision of tectonic plates

• They are caused by a very hot area of magma breaking through the crust

• They erupt more frequently

What is a characteristic of hotspot volcanoes?

• They are much rarer than other types of volcanoes

• They are the most common type of volcano

• They are always found near the equator

• They are formed by cold magma

Which of the following is NOT a cause of hotspot volcanoes?

• Breaking through the Earth's crust

• Movement of tectonic plates

• Rarity of occurrence

• A very hot area of magma