How do geysers form?

Answer 1

How geysers work is there is a pool of water right above a thinner-than-normal spot in the Earth's crust. The pressure is building up in the pool, until the pressure is too much. The water then shoots out of a hole at the top of the pool. The water then splashes down or evaporates. Then, the process repeats itself.

Answer 2

The geyser is one of those interesting physical systems which demonstrate a number of processes of heating, boiling point changes with preesure, and recycling. Physically it is a deep hole in the ground connecting the top reservoir of cold water to a reservoir of water far below ground. If building one for a science fair project this is usually constant level tank connected to a flask a the bottom of a long tube. In the natural geyser the bottom of the system is heated by hot rock (usually due to volcanic activity), but an exhibit has a heating coil.

The process that occurs (and repeats) is this:

• the geyser is initially filled with cold water which is warmed up by the heat at the bottom
• the heating continues until the water gets over the boiling point of water (100oC)
• however, as the column of water over the geyser provides pressure and raises the boiling point the water does not boil until it gets considerably over 100oC
• when the water eventually does boil it blows some of the water out of the column
• this reduces the pressure on the remaining water allowing it to flash into steam blowing even more water out of the column of water (this is the impressive geyser you see)
• once the column of water is empty cool water from the surface can flow down the tube of rock to refill the reservoir
• the refiled reservoir warms up to repeat the cycle

Answer 3

A build up of hot water forms underground and erupts ubruptly.

Answer 4

Hot water, steam, gases.