Investigating an Unexpected Ice Spike Formation

[OwtLyur]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on how this ice spike formed?

All I did was fill a 4" tall, 4" diameter plastic container with water and put it in a normal refridgerator freezer. I came back the next morning and found what you see in the photos.

I likely used deionized water but I don't remember this for sure. The freezer's temperature control was turned all the way down (the temperature of which I do not remember).



-ol

 

[pallidin]

This link may be of some help:

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/icespikes/icespikes.htm

 

[tiny-tim]

Welcome to PF!

Hi OwtLyur! Welcome to PF!

See these threads …

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=273135"

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=457331"

 

[OwtLyur]

Hi,

Thanks again for the links. I had a similar thought as well.

I was confused a bit because of the change of state. I was unsure how the generating ice would effect the inner volume.

I worked in a lab where we froze DI water often. I did this for 5 years and this was the only time it happened. This ice spike measures about 3".


Anyway, thanks again!


-ol

 

[PJC01]

iviamay

Hello oliviamay,

Thank you for sharing your experience with the unexpected ice spike formation. It is certainly a fascinating phenomenon and there are a few possible explanations for its occurrence.

One possible explanation is the presence of impurities in the water. Even if you used deionized water, it is possible that there were still small impurities present that acted as nucleation points for the ice to form around. These impurities could have been introduced during the filling of the container or from the freezer itself.

Another possible explanation is the temperature of the freezer. Even though the temperature control was turned all the way down, it is possible that there were fluctuations in the temperature that caused the water to freeze in a non-uniform manner, leading to the formation of the ice spike.

It is also worth noting that the shape and material of the container may have played a role in the formation of the ice spike. Plastic containers are known to have a lower thermal conductivity compared to other materials, which could have resulted in uneven freezing and the formation of the spike.

To further investigate this phenomenon, it would be helpful to replicate the experiment with controlled variables such as the type of water used, the temperature of the freezer, and the material of the container. This could help to determine the exact conditions needed for the ice spike formation.

I hope this helps in understanding the unexpected ice spike formation. Keep exploring and experimenting!