Freezing point of flowing water.

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    Freezing Point Water
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the question of whether the freezing point of water decreases when it is flowing compared to when it is still. Participants explore the implications of kinetic energy and flow dynamics on the freezing process, considering both theoretical and experiential perspectives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that flowing water may freeze more easily due to kinetic energy affecting stabilization, though they express uncertainty about supporting this with physics.
  • Another participant poses a thought experiment regarding the freezing pattern in a gently flowing stream, questioning where freezing would first occur.
  • A different viewpoint indicates that flowing water, due to its kinetic energy, makes it harder to freeze, as solid formation requires molecules to slow down and come closer together.
  • One participant introduces the idea that increased viscosity at 0 degrees Celsius might interact with turbulence in flowing water, potentially affecting freezing dynamics, and shares a personal anecdote about mixing a drink with stream water that froze quickly.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between flow and freezing, with no consensus reached on whether flowing water freezes more easily or not.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on assumptions about kinetic energy, viscosity, and flow dynamics, which remain unresolved in the discussion.

fatihseker
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Hello,
this is my first post :) I will be very glad if you would answer my question. Does freezing point decrease if water is flowing or in otjer words,"does flowing water freeze more easily than still water". if the answer is yes, would you please give me the link of the source or paper. iwill be very very appreciated. Thanks a lot.
 
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Welcome to PF!

I'd quite like to know the answer to that. :rolleyes:

Anyone? :smile:
 
I would have no idea how to support my answer using physics. But something tells me that the more kinetic energy the water has, the harder it is to stabilize. So I think the faster water flows the lower freezing point it has.
 
Gedankenexperiment

A gently flowing stream of water has/with a very smooth boundary layer transition from no flow attached at the boundary to the highest velocity. Where does the freezing first occur? What pattern might the frozen fluid form?
 
freezing point is 0 degrees celsius at 1.013 bar atmosphere pressure now it depends because since water is flowing it has a kinetic energy and thus making it harder to freeze as we know solid form is just molecules moving closer together, slowing down etc... which means u will rarely find ice on flowing water
 
One possibility is that water at 0 Celsius rapidly increases viscosity as it begins to freeze, so if it is flowing, there is increased Reynold's number (turbulence) and thus increased kinetic energy being converted into latent heat of melting. Many years ago, I was camping near a flowing stream in the winter. When I arose in the morning, I mixed a cup of Tang using the stream water, which quickly began to freeze in my tin cup. Was it the Tang that made it freeze?

Bob S
 
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