How Can We Model and Simplify the Melting of an Ice Cube?

[kimmyS]

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum. I am taking an undergraduate thermodynamics course and got stumped by this problem. I found this forum and figured that someone here would be able to help me with this!

Homework Statement

Develop a model for melting of an ice cube. What assumptions can/need to be made? What is difficult about this problem? What type of simple experiment could be conducted to test the solution?

Homework Equations

Which equations would be appropriate to develop this model?

The Attempt at a Solution

Initially you only have convection of the air around the ice cube to worry about. However, as the ice melts, you have a growing pool of water developing around the ice cube that changes temperature with time. This complicates matters even more. One way to simplify this would be to put the ice on a grating to allow the water to drip off. Then you only need to worry about the air convection.

Please, any help would be great! Thanks!

 

[AlephZero]

Some more complications:

The ice cube changes shape as it melts.

There will be evaporation of the film of water covering the cube.

 

[runphysics]

more complications
Heat conduction from the surface it is sitting upon.
Radiation heating if it is in a lit area.

Simple experiment, do the whole thing in a calorimeter.