Key learning points

1. There are two main types of volcano: composite and shield volcanoes.
2. Composite volcanoes are usually found at destructive plate boundaries and they are highly explosive volcanoes
3. Shield volcanoes are usually found at constructive plate boundaries.
4. Some eruptions are explosive, whereas others are effusive.

Keywords

• Crust - the outer layer of Earth where our continents and oceans are and is the layer on which we live

• Magma - molten or semi-molten rock underground

• Mantle - the layer between Earth’s outer core and crust. It is the largest layer of Earth and is mostly semi-molten lava

• Destructive plate boundary - a boundary where two tectonic plates move together causing volcanoes and earthquakes

• Constructive plate boundary - a boundary where two tectonic plates move apart, causing volcanic eruptions and earthquakes

Common misconception