what determines the viscosity of lava?

Question

what determines the viscosity of lava

Answer 1

Mostly the temperature. The cooler it gets the thicker it becomes.

Answer 2

Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid to flow. So honey is highly viscous, whereas water is not as much.

Lava's flow depends on its temperature. It flows slower as it cools, eventually coming to a stop when it completely solidifies.

So the temperature is the major determinant of the viscosity of lava.

Answer 3

Four things combined:It's molecular composition,it's internal temperature,the surrounding mediums temperature in which it flows and the exerted pressure from within the earth,will determine the lava's viscosity....Tom Science 4

Answer 4

Temperature, concentration of gas in the lava, and the concentration of silicon in the lava determine the viscosity.

Answer 5

Viscosity is mainly determined by the complexity of the silicate minerals. In basaltic lavas the mineralogy is dominated by olivine, pyroxene and calcium plagioclase feldspar. Olivines are isolated silicon oxide tetrahedras and pyroxenes are single chains of silicon oxides. Calcium plagioclase is the only three-dimensional silicate. In rhyolitic lavas the mineralogy is dominated by amphibole, mica, quartz, sodium plagioclase feldspar and potassium feldspar. Amphiboles are double chains of silicon oxides, micas are sheets of silicon oxides, quartz and feldspars are three-dimensional silicates. More complicated minerals don't flow so easily. Also, the temperature of basalt is higher than the temperature of rhyolite, and higher heat means lower viscosity and higher flow.

Answer 6

the temperature and chemical make up is the prime contributors to viscosity of magma.

Answer 7

the more viscous the lava the steeper the volcano will be

Answer 8

Here ya go.