Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Petrochemicals on 26/12/2022 18:49:06

Title: Why in the cold are people throwing hot water into the air?
Post by: Petrochemicals on 26/12/2022 18:49:06: In the cold of America people are once more throwing hot water into the air [ Invalid Attachment ]

But why is it hot water? Is cold water incapable of rendering the effect seen in the picture above?
Title: Re: Why in the cold are people throwing hot water into the air?
Post by: alancalverd on 26/12/2022 19:19:14: It's less spectacular with cold water, which may freeze before it has travelled very far. Try it and see!
Title: Re: Why in the cold are people throwing hot water into the air?
Post by: evan_au on 26/12/2022 20:13:19: Part of the effect is that steam (water vapour) immediately condenses to tiny ice particles, which reflect the light.
Cold water produces very little water vapour.
Title: Re: Why in the cold are people throwing hot water into the air?
Post by: Petrochemicals on 27/12/2022 10:07:22: Quote from: alancalverd on 26/12/2022 19:19:14
It's less spectacular with cold water, which may freeze before it has travelled very far. Try it and see!
I would but I have not got a -45 c climate.
Quote from: evan_au on 26/12/2022 20:13:19
Part of the effect is that steam (water vapour) immediately condenses to tiny ice particles, which reflect the light.
Cold water produces very little water vapour.
It must be something like this, the hot water separates more energetically?
Title: Re: Why in the cold are people throwing hot water into the air?
Post by: vhfpmr on 27/12/2022 12:03:08: Quote from: Petrochemicals on 27/12/2022 10:07:22
It must be something like this, the hot water separates more energetically?
It's a lot more simple and obvious than that: there wouldn't be anything very surprising, spectacular, interesting or news worthy about water freezing instantly if it was already very cold.
Title: Re: Why in the cold are people throwing hot water into the air?
Post by: Petrochemicals on 28/12/2022 09:38:17: Quote from: vhfpmr on 27/12/2022 12:03:08
Quote from: Petrochemicals on 27/12/2022 10:07:22
It must be something like this, the hot water separates more energetically?
It's a lot more simple and obvious than that: there wouldn't be anything very surprising, spectacular, interesting or news worthy about water freezing instantly if it was already very cold.
I think there would be, if you could throw water into the air and freeze it that is still remarkable.

It takes as much energy to raise water from 0 to 80C as it does to change the same mass of ice to water. To vaporise the same mass of water takes 7 times as much as energy than to melt it from ice.
Title: Re: Why in the cold are people throwing hot water into the air?
Post by: Bored chemist on 28/12/2022 15:19:55: I'm fairly sure the hot water will have a lower surface tension so it might form a better "spray"..
Title: Re: Why in the cold are people throwing hot water into the air?
Post by: Petrochemicals on 31/12/2022 22:58:00: This only works at 25c below freezing, not sure of the humidity factor etc.
Title: Re: Why in the cold are people throwing hot water into the air?
Post by: wolfekeeper on 06/01/2023 05:40:38: My understanding is that it only freezes well with boiling water: