When water freezes, strange shapes may appear

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter g.lemaitre
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Shapes Strange Water
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of unusual shapes appearing in ice when water freezes, specifically focusing on a photo showing a stick of ice protruding from the top. Participants explore the conditions and mechanisms behind this occurrence.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant observes a stick of ice shooting out from the top of a frozen structure and questions the cause.
  • Another participant expresses unfamiliarity with this phenomenon, noting their experience with ice trays and inquires about the freezing conditions.
  • A third participant proposes a mechanism explaining that the center top of the ice is the last to freeze, causing liquid water to be forced upward through a hole as more water freezes around it, resulting in the formation of an "ice-pipe." They also mention that time-lapse videos have captured this effect.
  • A fourth participant praises the explanation and the accompanying video provided by the third participant.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the cause of the phenomenon, but there is agreement on the interesting nature of the observed effect and the validity of the proposed mechanism.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not clarify the specific conditions under which the ice was formed, nor does it address potential variations in freezing environments that could affect the outcome.

g.lemaitre
Messages
267
Reaction score
2
IMG_0416.jpg


do you see in that photo how that little stick of ice shoots out from the top? What do you think caused that?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
No idea. I've used ice trays plenty of times and I've never once seen anything like this. What were the conditions it froze under?
 
The centre top is the last place to freeze on the surface, then as more water freezes from the side/bottom faces, the central liquid is forced upwards through the hole. As it reaches the top of the hole it's forced outward (where it freezes) by more liquid coming up. So this makes a sort of ice-pipe where more water can escape.

A few people have made time-lapse videos of this effect!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSNtnhpvs1Q&feature=related
 
excellent answer and excellent video, you really rock Mikey. i couldn't be more pleased with your answer.
 

Similar threads

High School Question about pressure of a liquid
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
Graduate Superionic and metallic states of water and the Anomaly of Water
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
High School Conservation of Energy: Ball on a U-Shaped Ramp
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
High School Why does ice have more friction when it's solid compared to when it's melting?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Undergrad Why does salt reduce the freezing point of water?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
8K
High School Does movement affect H2O freezing temperature?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
7K
Undergrad Minimize supported weight of a water pipe
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
3K
High School Pumping water upwards into a large water tank
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
High School What caused the strange water leakage from a sealed jug?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
High School Why does water level stay the same when ice melts inside the water?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
6K