Mysterious Freezing Patterns: What Causes Them?

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    Freezing Patterns
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of ice formation on car windows, specifically focusing on the patterns of freezing observed. Participants explore the mechanisms behind the formation of linear ice patterns versus random spots, as well as broader implications of freezing patterns in other contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Alex notes the observation of ice forming in lines on car windows, questioning the mechanism behind this specific pattern of freezing.
  • One participant suggests that ice grows in crystals and that once a crystal forms, it attracts more water vapor, leading to growth.
  • Another participant questions why ice forms in lines rather than spots, wondering about the preferential condensation along certain axes.
  • A later reply introduces the idea that freezing patterns might have broader implications, mentioning a patent related to using freezing to remove nuclear waste and the potential significance of different freezing rates.
  • The same participant expresses curiosity about the study of freezing water and the terminology associated with phase changes from liquid to solid.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express curiosity and propose various hypotheses, but there is no consensus on the exact mechanisms behind the observed ice patterns or the implications of freezing patterns in other contexts.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the conditions of freezing and the properties of water vapor may be missing, and the discussion does not resolve the specific scientific terms or concepts referenced.

alexbib
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The last few days have been very cold and when I come back to my car, water has condensated (to solid phase) in the windows. I have noted that the ice seems to form in lines that cross each other (forming seemingly random patterns made of almost perfectly straight lines) Of course there is some condensation all over the windows, but the ice in these lines is much concentrated. If you know what I'm talking about, do you have any idea how these ice lines are formed?

Thanks,

Alex
 
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I don't remember the chemistry term for it (seeding?), but the ice grows in crystals. It attaches easier to other ice than it does to the windshield. So when one crystal starts, the water vapor in the air will attach to it, making it grow.
 
yeah, I thought about that, but why does it not form spots of ice rather than lines? Why is it easier to condensate on the axis of the line than in a random direction next to it?
 
come on guys, I'd really like to know...
 
I don't really understand it. I actually found this thread search for an answer.

I'll share what little I know.

I think that actually there might be a lot a freezing pattern can tell us.

I know there's a patent on using freezing to remove nuclear waste from water. I can't remember what the pollutant name was though... it ended in `ium` and started with a D I think. Duerturanium isn't it... hmm...
basically some ice freezes quicker than others.

... anyway, I have been playing with freezing water and tasting the results. It certainly makes a difference. I noticed by looking in the bottle there is dirt on the surface of the ice.

I'm sure there is a word for the study of freezing water (what's the word for liquid to solid state change?). If we can find the patent I'm looking for there will be words in there that we can use to help us search for more info.

In the mean-time, here's this;
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15247390
and this:
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/327/5966/672.abstract

edit:: sorry, totally bumped this old thread!
 

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