Surface Water Freezing: Can It Happen?

AI Thread Summary
Surface water can freeze on roads even when air temperatures are above 0 degrees Celsius due to the influence of ground temperature. Cooler air can flow downward, causing the road surface to reach freezing temperatures despite warmer air above. Bridges are particularly susceptible to this phenomenon as they can cool more rapidly than roadways, leading to ice formation even when surrounding air is warmer. In prolonged cold conditions, ground temperatures may drop below freezing, allowing moisture to freeze on the surface. Understanding the dynamics of heat flow is essential to grasping how and why this occurs.
mike2007
Messages
46
Reaction score
0
Is it possible for water on the surface of a road to freeze even though the temperature of the air just above the road is above 0 degree Celcius?

I think the answer is yes but i do not have any theories to support it.
It may be because the air above is is above 0 degrees so it tends to rise and the cooler air flows downward towards the road and thereby the road freezes.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The temperature of the ice will be affected far more by the temperature of the ground than the air above it.
 
mike2007 said:
Is it possible for water on the surface of a road to freeze even though the temperature of the air just above the road is above 0 degree Celcius?
Yes. One may have noticed signs in some parts of the country warning that the bridge will freeze before the road way. This is because the bridge structure is colder than the road or air. The water freezes on the bridge, which is below freezing.

In a prolonged cold environment, the ground may cool below freezing. Even when the air is warmer, if the ground is below freezing, then moisture could freeze on the ground.

One has to look at the heat sinks and sources, and the flow of heat.
 
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'

Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'

In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanged mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanged mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

B Does movement affect H2O freezing temperature?
Replies
16
Views
5K
How many hours until ice on lake freezes from 5.78ft to 6.76ft?
Replies
12
Views
3K
I How can visible gas bubbles remain intact inside frozen water?
Replies
8
Views
1K
A Can high air velocity in vacuum system create "freezing" of the pipe?
Replies
3
Views
1K
Freezing Lake - Heat Energy Questions
Replies
6
Views
4K
Understanding Heat Transfer in a Freezing System
Replies
7
Views
2K
Problem set with air conditioners and thermodynamics
Replies
5
Views
2K
Heat conduction and phase changes
Replies
2
Views
2K
Questions involving airflow and pressure around a car
Replies
21
Views
3K
Cooking (Thermodynamics) Problems
Replies
14
Views
4K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top