Imagine two magmas that are identical in all respects (or example, same chemistry, pressure, volume) except that one magma is hotter than the other. Which magma will have the higher viscosity?
1 Answer
Mar 4, 2017
The colder magma will have higher viscosity.
Explanation:
Think of maple syrup. If you out it in the refrigerator you then find it's hard to pour or squeeze out. Its viscosity, meaning its resistance to flow under stress, is high. Warm up the syrup and the viscosity drops; how the syrup flows easily. Yum!
The same (meaning viscosity, not tastiness) applies for most liquids including Earth's magma.
