Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Hadrian on 16/12/2006 18:10:52

Title: Why does ice float?
Post by: Hadrian on 16/12/2006 18:10:52

What stops ice from sinking??
Title: Re: Why does ice float?
Post by: neilep on 16/12/2006 21:31:08


What stops ice from sinking??

ice floats because it is less dense than liquid water.
Title: Re: Why does ice float?
Post by: neilep on 16/12/2006 21:31:40
....in addition...some bizarre stuff happens to  water at 4 degrees C
Title: Re: Why does ice float?
Post by: neilep on 16/12/2006 21:35:14
..just sourced this !

" Water reaches its maximum density at 4°C (40°F). As it cools further and freezes into ice, it actually becomes less dense. On the other hand, most substances are most dense in their solid (frozen) state than in their liquid state. Water is different because of hydrogen bonding. "
Title: Re: Why does ice float?
Post by: Karen W. on 16/12/2006 22:02:21
OH, I always wondered that! That was a good question Hadrian! Nice answer thanks Neil!
Title: Re: Why does ice float?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 18/12/2006 00:13:05
Water is really a sort of polymer caused by hydrogen bonding and has very many extremely unusual properties it has many different crystal structures depending on the temeprtature and pressure that the crystals are formed.  It just so happens that the one we are familiar with occupies space slightly less efficiently than liquid water because it has a very open structure ans therefore ice floats on water
Title: Re: Why does ice float?
Post by: JimBob on 18/12/2006 00:47:05

What stops ice from sinking??

It is usually floating in whisky.
Title: Re: Why does ice float?
Post by: Heliotrope on 18/12/2006 19:37:33
Jack Daniel's preferably.

[:D]
Title: Re: Why does ice float?
Post by: Heliotrope on 18/12/2006 19:37:59
Anyone else want a drink while I'm at the bar ?
[:D]
Title: Re: Why does ice float?
Post by: WylieE on 18/12/2006 19:54:04
OK. . . So what temperature is ice?
I've heard 4 deg and 0 deg.
If I stick a thermometer in ice water it is 0deg,
but if I rest it on the ice it is 4, is this just because the thermometer is not completely surrounded by ice (some air gets in there and warms it up a bit)?
I'll have to try it with ice-whiskey and see what that temperature is . . .
Colleen
Title: Re: Why does ice float?
Post by: ariel on 18/12/2006 20:53:00
aren't hydrogen bonds wonderful!
Title: Why does ice float?
Post by: jolly on 23/02/2007 22:16:32
deleted as inapproprate
Title: Why does ice float?
Post by: Hadrian on 23/02/2007 23:47:30
you cant beet simple  LOL  [:0]
Title: Why does ice float?
Post by: lightarrow on 24/02/2007 17:14:07
What stops ice from sinking??
Paradoxically, it's ...gravity!
In the absence of it, no floating.
Title: Why does ice float?
Post by: GBSB on 24/02/2007 18:47:47
What stops ice from sinking??
Paradoxically, it's ...gravity!
In the absence of it, no floating.

It is gravity and buoyancy.

P. S.
I am not agreeing with one of greatest scientist of all time (Sir Isaac Newton) about existence of the force of buoyancy.

GBSB = (G – Gravity, B – Buoyancy, S - Strength, B – Balance)
Title: Why does ice float?
Post by: lightarrow on 24/02/2007 20:06:55
What stops ice from sinking??
Paradoxically, it's ...gravity!
In the absence of it, no floating.
It is gravity and buoyancy.
Of course, however is gravity which generate buoyancy in the presence of a density difference.
Title: Why does ice float?
Post by: jolly on 25/02/2007 19:10:13
deleted as inapproprate
Title: Why does ice float?
Post by: Hadrian on 25/02/2007 19:47:28
water stops ice sinking.lol ice is heavier but like a snow mans shoe the weight is spead over its surface so ice stops itself sinking. If you turned a flat ice disc over. It may sink but generally it would still float because of the air trapped inside it, the bubbles would be like little internal 'balloons'. so looking at ices weight the ballons make it lighter. and water is heavier. back to the begining. 

We like to go around and around its good for the fitness      [;D]
Title: Why does ice float?
Post by: ukmicky on 25/02/2007 22:19:01
Ice floats because as it forms it becomes less dense than the water it formed from,. In other words its volume increases and takes up more space than the water it formed from.
 
Title: Why does ice float?
Post by: Hadrian on 26/02/2007 01:11:37
Ice floats because as it forms it becomes less dense than the water it formed from,. In other words its volume increases and takes up more space than the water it formed from.
 

thank you mr M :)