[Emmalee]

Emmalee asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Does freezing an object affect its balance?

What do you think?

[CliffordK]

I think you need more information.

Freezing a solid (more) won't do a lot.  So, for example, a warm and a cold top should spin about the same.

Liquids would be more complex, but would be dependent on the application.

For example, mobile tanks (fuel, water, etc) are often baffled to prevent sloshing of the liquid causing the vehicle to loose balance.  Freezing the liquid inside would also prevent sloshing and would prevent the vehicle from loosing its balance.

I can also imagine a top filled with a liquid.  It would likely function better with a frozen central weight vs having a liquid spun up the sides.  Certainly the action (speed and momentum) of it would be different.