Exploring Heat Differences in Ice Melting in 2 Cylindrical Containers

In summary, the conversation discusses a problem involving two vertical cylindrical containers filled with the same mass of ice. The question is whether there is a difference in the heat required to melt the ice in the two containers. While the initial assumption is that the heat would not differ since the mass is the same, it is later discovered that the difference in height between the initial and final center of mass results in a difference in potential energy, leading to a difference in heat required. However, this difference is negligible for practical purposes.
  • #1
RingNebula57
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2
Hello everyone! I recently saw a problem about some ice in 2 containers. So:
We have 2 vertical cylindrical containers, which have perfect insulating walls, one with surface of the base S and the other one 2S , filled with the same mass of ice. The question is if there is any diffrence between the heat required to melt the ice in the 2 containers.
I would've probably said no , because Heat=(mass ice)*(latent heat of melting), and how the mass is the same then the heat does not differ. But the solution says that the heat required is diffrent , because if we melt all the ice , than it will turn completely into water , and because we have diffrent cross sections of the containters than the heat will differ. They arrived to that conclusion after saying that the diffrence in height between the initial center of mass and final center of mass for both systems differ.Then the diffrences of the potential energies is the 2 systems will differ also. And converting potential energy into heat we have diffrent heats.
And that seem alright too.
So why is my first guess incorrect?

Thank you!
 
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  • #2
RingNebula57 said:
Heat=(mass ice)*(latent heat of melting)
minus potential energy released in the process. Which is completely negligible for all practical purposes, but yes, it differs between the two containers. 10 centimeters (approximate difference if the ice is 1 or 2 meters high respectively) would give 1J/kg, compared to 330 kJ/kg the effect is 3 parts in a million.
 
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  • #3
mfb said:
minus potential energy released in the process. Which is completely negligible for all practical purposes, but yes, it differs between the two containers. 10 centimeters (approximate difference if the ice is 1 or 2 meters high respectively) would give 1J/kg, compared to 330 kJ/kg the effect is 3 parts in a million.
Thank you!
 

1. How does the shape of the container affect the rate of ice melting?

The shape of the container can affect the rate of ice melting because it determines the surface area of the ice that is exposed to the surrounding temperature. A cylindrical container has a larger surface area compared to a flat container, which means that more heat can be transferred to the ice in a shorter amount of time, resulting in a faster rate of melting.

2. Why are two cylindrical containers being used in this experiment?

Using two cylindrical containers allows for a comparison between the rates of ice melting in different shapes and sizes. This can help us understand how the shape of a container can impact the rate of heat transfer and melting.

3. How will the temperature of the surrounding environment affect the results?

The temperature of the surrounding environment will directly impact the rate of heat transfer and therefore, the rate of ice melting in the containers. A higher temperature will result in faster melting while a lower temperature will result in slower melting.

4. What other factors can influence the rate of ice melting in the containers?

Apart from the shape and temperature, other factors that can influence the rate of ice melting include the material of the containers, the thickness of the ice, and the initial temperature of the ice. These variables should be controlled in the experiment to ensure accurate results.

5. How can the results of this experiment be applied in real-life situations?

The results of this experiment can help us understand the principles of heat transfer and how it can be affected by different factors. This knowledge can be applied in various industries such as food preservation, refrigeration, and insulation to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

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