Why Does a Sealed Water Bottle Crack in the Freezer?

[Gamma]

This is not a homework question, but a conceptual question that I am trying to understand.

We all have experienced/heard that if you put a completely full water bottle with the cap on in the freezer, the bottle cracks as the water freezers. The explanation is that the water expand as it freezes. But if you look at the V vs. T graph of water, it start to expand only below 4 Celsius. So the bottle has enough space to hold the expanded volume. Since, in real life, the bottle actually cracks, what am I missing?

Thank you! - Gamma.

 

[TSny]

Hello, Gamma.

When the water freezes, ice is formed. What is the density of ice compared to water at 0 ^oC ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice

 

[Gamma]

got it. thanks! feel stupid.

 

[TSny]

It's a good question. For most substances, the solid state is more dense than the liquid state. Water is one of the exceptions.