# Molten lava about to cover my girlfreind ... good or bad thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 14, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621 "2002-04-14T21:43:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/21 "2002-04-15T12:58:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by furt \* > \*\* > > Now **this** is the kind of information I’m looking for! \*\* No, no it is not. Regardless of the density, it is no longer a solid. You could no more “just about stand” on the lava than you can walk on water. As has been mentioned, you’ll ignite prior to even touching it, and due to the tremendous amount of available thermal energy, the lava will not cool appreciably nor solidify in the process. The ultimate effect will be one of rapid and utter cremation. ---
**Author:** ![SandWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@SandWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandWriter)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/22 "2002-04-15T14:54:33Z")
I’m looking into my Crystal Clear Trinitron Screen (Not everyone can have a Crystal Ball). I see pages, I see a book, I can just make out the title, “Captain Amazing verse Volcano VanGool.” I open the book and in the “Special Thanks” section I think I see, wait, yes, there it is, “…And last but not least, a special thanks to all those Intelligent people at the SDMB(s), you know who you are.” ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/23 "2002-04-15T16:04:50Z")
What temperature is molten lava? ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/24 "2002-04-15T16:14:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shelbo \* > \*\*What temperature is molten lava? \*\* The point at which it is ‘molten’ differs by type. ~1150C for Basalt. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/25 "2002-04-15T16:22:36Z")
Hurry! Not much time! Von Gool’s guards are coming! Answer these quickly: > [@](#): > > When the rock cools, could it be chipped away from her feet? > > How much of her body could be theoretically be covered in lava > and still have her survive? > > Let’s say for instance … I let a little glob of the boiling rock splash onto her; what then? ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/26 "2002-04-15T22:54:52Z")
> [@](#): > > **furt** > > When the rock cools, could it be chipped away from her feet? Sure, they chipped lava off the poor bastards at Pompei, I think it has been established she will be dead before she hits the lava or shortly there after. > [@](#): > > How much of her body could be theoretically be covered in lava > and still have her survive? Dunno different people can survive serious burns that others cannot. Is a case by case I would imagine. I hazard to guess a 20 year old fit and bouncey Bunnylove would survive a higher percentage of burn (cant recall which is worse 1st or 3rd degree) while an 80 year old wheel chair bound Bunnylove might not have the ability to heal from as much trama. > [@](#): > > Let’s say for instance … I let a little glob of the boiling rock splash onto her; what then? Bunnylove screams most likely passes out and if survives has one hell of a Nasty scar. Hob big of a glob anyway? Tell Baron VonGool He is a Dumbass. I personally would use Liquid Wax instead of Lava. At the right temp she could survive much longer. Plus you can add cool dyes for looks. Maybe add a bubble machine in the Wax vat and get the witches brew effect. Then there is the liquid latex option, not near as painful, looks like tar and oh so Kinky 🙂 😃 Osip ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/27 "2002-04-15T23:56:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by furt \* > \*\*When the rock cools, could it be chipped away from her feet? \*\* Moot point. Bu the time the rock cools, whatever part of her that was covered by the lava will have been completely incinerated, so you can simply pull her free. She’ll be long dead by then, of course. > [@](#): > > \*\*How much of her body could be theoretically be covered in lava and still have her survive? \*\* If it’s a quick dip, you could probably dunk her most of the way up her legs at least. They’ll probably need amputation, but with medical care and a long stay in the burn ward she should survive. Remember, the limiting factor isn’t so much how much of her gets covered by lava as how long she’s in close proximity to the lava itself - the radiated heat from the lava will bake her alive eventually even if she never touches it. Better tell Von Gool to be quick about it. > [@](#): > > **Let’s say for instance … I let a little glob of the boiling rock splash onto her; what then?** Depends how large a glob, and whether it rests on her or bounces off. My WAG is that there will be a steam effect between her skin and the lava glob that will that will make it tend to bounce off and keep it from burning her too much, especially if she’s sweating a lot. When I was a kid I had a marble-sized glob of molten metal land on my hand. Hurt like hell, but the burn healed in a few weeks. Now lava is much hotter than what fell on me, but doesn’t transmit heat as well as metal. Remember that people can walk on red-hot coals without injury, so long as they’re quick about it - the hot rocks don’t transmit heat fast enough to burn them. ---
**Author:** ![jiHymas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@jiHymas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jiHymas)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/28 "2002-04-16T01:24:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Osip \* > \*\* Sure, they chipped lava off the poor bastards at Pompei, > I think it has been established she will be dead before she hits the lava or shortly there after. > > \*\* Wasn’t that “just” ash that covered Pompei, not lava? ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/29 "2002-04-16T02:13:41Z")
There was this German guy living on the big island a few years back, He may still be there for all I know. Anyway what he’d do is he’d find some molten lava. Put on some huge thick asbestos type gloves but also be wearing maybe a tank top. And he’d go to the lava reach in a pull out a chunk and mold it into some kind of statue. So liquid rock can be cool enough to approach and actually be ok. It’s rare and you have to be good. Of course this lava has probably been on the surface for a bit. Those researchers mentioned before want to try and get pure lava that’s been traveling underground and has had little chance to cool any. But touching it! Always always a bad idea. But she could survive. There have been cases of people falling in and living and recovering. But the less the better and the quicker you’re out the better. here’s a [link](http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/frequent_questions/grp1/question625.html) [link](http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/frequent_questions/group1_new.html) [link](http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/frequent_questions/grp1/question795.html) for you you you. ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/30 "2002-04-16T02:51:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jiHymas \* > \*\* > > Wasn’t that “just” ash that covered Pompei, not lava? \*\* Could be actually, what I have forgotten about pompei along with what I never knew you could just about squeeze into the grand canyon. Someone will be along to chastize me for a short circuited memory. ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/31 "2002-04-16T02:56:59Z")
Ack ok I just googled for myself. Pompei was ash and stone (easy to dig out) Ercolano (to the west) was covered in Hot mud (chisels and drills) Other than that cant tell, my itialian is very poor these day. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/32 "2002-04-16T05:24:14Z")
Hmmm. Given Osiris’ links, it appears there is some dissent in the academic world. Perhaps more research is needed… ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/33 "2002-04-16T06:29:10Z")
Here’s another good question they answer about trees getting hit. [link](http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/frequent_questions/grp1/question382.html). Even in Kalapana where you had houses surrounded by lava, it took awhile for them to burst into flames without being touched by the lava. And it probably required the winds to die down. A strong steady wind does a great job of blowing the heat away. P.S. I grew up on Kilauea, yes on Kilauea. And we knew several of the volcanologists working there through the University where my mother attended and worked. Now that was 20 years ago but that was also right about the time one of those guys fell in. What they say on the links I gave sounds right. I wish I could remember the whole story. I know keys played a part. eh. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/34 "2002-04-16T06:32:30Z")
Ooh, [Here](http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/frequent_questions/grp1/question1158.html) he talks about that German guy I mentioned. Quote: “Without thinking hard I can think of 5 ways he could die almost instantly.” They don’t like him. “Hawaiians” neither. They thinks it’s a sacrilidge. (I can’t spell that last word.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/35 "2002-04-17T00:59:51Z")
Handy rule for temperatures: Two “black” objects which are both glowing the same color have the same temperature. I’m pretty sure that lava and stove burners are decent approximations to a blackbody, so red-hot lava is the same temperature as a red-hot stove burner. If **Waverly** ’s figure of 1150 C is accurate, my back-of-the-envelope calculation is that it’d be rather on the cool side for “red-hot”. In other words, body part in contact with (barely) molten basalt would be similar to body contact with electric stove on “high”. Definitely bad, but not necessarily deadly, if it’s over a small enough portion of the body. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621/36 "2002-04-21T12:28:02Z")
Chronos, there is a wide range of temperatures associated with the color given off by thermal radiation. An electric burner, at perhaps 550 C may take on a faint red glow, while the 1150 C of molten basalt is a yellow-red at more than twice the temperature. In addition, the amount of energy available for transfer in a pool of molten rock is going to dwarf that of a burner element, not to mention the surface area of contact has the potential to be much greater. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molten-lava-about-to-cover-my-girlfreind-good-or-bad-thing/103621.md?page=1)