Water level before and after metling of ice cube

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of ice floating in water and how it affects the water level. It is explained that when an ice cube is placed in a glass of water, the water level is marked and when the ice cube melts, the overall water level remains the same. This is because the weight of the fluid displaced by the ice is equal to the weight of the ice itself, and since the volume of the ice remains unchanged before and after melting, the water level remains the same. However, it is mentioned that this is not entirely true because water takes up more volume in its solid form than in its liquid form. The conversation concludes by encouraging the person to review the basic facts about ice floating in water to find the answer to
  • #1
wei1006
6
0

Homework Statement


A big ice cube is placed in a small glass of water. The level of water in the glass is marked. When the ice cube melts completely,the overall water level will remain the same. Explain.

Homework Equations


Upthrust= weight of fluid displaced

The Attempt at a Solution


Since the ice floats,weight of fluid displaced is equal to the weight of ice itself. Since upthrust equals to weight of fluid displaced, it is equals to density of ice times volume of ice times gravitational force times area. Since the volume of ice is unchanged before and after melting, the water level remains the same.
 
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  • #2
wei1006 said:
Since the volume of ice is unchanged before and after melting, the water level remains the same.
This is not true. Water takes more volume in the ice form than in the liquid form.
 
  • #3
FactChecker said:
This is not true. Water takes more volume in the ice form than in the liquid form.
May I know why is the water level the same then?
 
  • #4
wei1006 said:
May I know why is the water level the same then?
I can't answer a homework problem for you. Review the basic facts about ice floating in water and you will find the answer.

Maybe you are using the term "volume" wrong. In your solution, you refer to both volume and area.
 
  • #5
wei1006 said:
May I know why is the water level the same then?
You made a good start:
wei1006 said:
Since the ice floats,weight of fluid displaced is equal to the weight of ice itself.
What about when it has melted?
 

FAQ: Water level before and after metling of ice cube

What happens to the water level before and after melting of an ice cube?

Before melting, the water level will remain the same as the ice cube is already submerged in the water. After melting, the water level will increase as the ice cube turns into liquid water.

Why does the water level increase after melting of an ice cube?

The water level increases after melting of an ice cube because the volume of the ice cube is greater than the volume of the same amount of liquid water. Therefore, when the ice cube melts, the same amount of water takes up less space, resulting in an increase in water level.

What factors can affect the water level before and after melting of an ice cube?

The water level can be affected by the size of the ice cube, the temperature of the surrounding water, and the temperature of the environment. A larger ice cube will result in a larger increase in water level after melting, and colder temperatures will slow down the melting process, resulting in a smaller increase in water level.

Will the water level change if the ice cube is floating or submerged?

No, the water level will not change regardless of whether the ice cube is floating or submerged. This is because the ice cube is already displacing its own weight in water, so when it melts, the same amount of liquid water will take up the same space.

Is the increase in water level the same as the volume of the melted ice cube?

No, the increase in water level will not always be the same as the volume of the melted ice cube. This is because some of the melted water may evaporate before it has a chance to contribute to the increase in water level.

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