What is Ice: Definition and 980 Discussions

Ice is water frozen into a solid state. Depending on the presence of impurities such as particles of soil or bubbles of air, it can appear transparent or a more or less opaque bluish-white color.
In the Solar System, ice is abundant and occurs naturally from as close to the Sun as Mercury to as far away as the Oort cloud objects. Beyond the Solar System, it occurs as interstellar ice. It is abundant on Earth's surface – particularly in the polar regions and above the snow line – and, as a common form of precipitation and deposition, plays a key role in Earth's water cycle and climate. It falls as snowflakes and hail or occurs as frost, icicles or ice spikes and aggregates from snow as glaciers and ice sheets.
Ice exhibits at least eighteen phases (packing geometries), depending on temperature and pressure. When water is cooled rapidly (quenching), up to three types of amorphous ice can form depending on its history of pressure and temperature. When cooled slowly, correlated proton tunneling occurs below −253.15 °C (20 K, −423.67 °F) giving rise to macroscopic quantum phenomena. Virtually all ice on Earth's surface and in its atmosphere is of a hexagonal crystalline structure denoted as ice Ih (spoken as "ice one h") with minute traces of cubic ice, denoted as ice Ic and, more recently found, Ice VII inclusions in diamonds. The most common phase transition to ice Ih occurs when liquid water is cooled below 0 °C (273.15 K, 32 °F) at standard atmospheric pressure. It may also be deposited directly by water vapor, as happens in the formation of frost. The transition from ice to water is melting and from ice directly to water vapor is sublimation.
Ice is used in a variety of ways, including for cooling, for winter sports, and ice sculpting.

View More On Wikipedia.org
Recent contents Top users
  1. C

    Calorimetry - Water & Ice Problem

    Homework Statement A 10 gram quantity of water at 25 degrees Celsius is poured onto a 400 gram block of ice which is at -10 degrees Celsius. Assume that all the heat is contained within these two objects. Determine the final equilibrium temperature. Specific heat of water is 4186 J/kgK...
  2. E

    Calculating Acceleration on Ice: Max Possible for 60.9kg Person

    Homework Statement A 60.9kg person wishes to run on ice. The coefficient of static friction between his shoes and the ice is 0.123. What is his maximum possible acceleration? Homework Equations Newton's laws of motion The Attempt at a Solution I figured that Fnet = Ffr, with me...
  3. X

    Arctic Ice Instability: Recent Assessment & Effects of GHGs

    Here's a link to an animation from NASA of melting sea ice: http://www.nasa.gov/mov/391782main_sea_ice_concept.mov And also, a Science Journal Article on Arctic Ice: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/311/5768/1747.pdf GHG stands for Greenhouse Gases GIS stands for Greenland Ice Sheet LIG...
  4. Chewy0087

    Water Level floating ice physics

    Homework Statement another conceptual problem I'm having here, goes like this; A piece of ice floats in a glass filled with water. The ice contains a small stone, so that when the ice has melted the stone will sink to the bottom of the glass. What will happen to the water level of the glass...
  5. S

    Would an ice have formed if the Arctic Ocean was not enclosed?

    This is hypothetical question, but it does go the ability of polar ice caps to form and survive. Years ago I read about a computer simulations of a planet with a single circular continent centered on the north pole extending to the 30th N parallel. The continent was entirely flat with an...
  6. L

    Phase change Melting ice with hot tea.

    Homework Statement 175 cm3 of hot tea at 87°C are poured into a very thin paper cup with 80 g of crushed ice at 0°C. Calculate the final temperature of the "ice tea". (Hint: think about two processes: melting the ice into liquid and, maybe, warming the liquid.) Homework Equations...
  7. O

    Will a car on ice have its maximum speed reduced?

    suppose we have a car on ice stuck in first gear. intuitively, I thought it should still be able attain maximum speed (in first gear) in a straight line, but it would take longer because it couldn't apply as much force before the force it applies is greater than the static friction between...
  8. Z

    A testable model addressing the issue of East Antartica ice sheet stability?

    A considerable portion of E. Antarctica ice (average of 1.6 km height) rests on bedrock of 2000+ ft above sea level. https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=344123" Would such a core suffice to cover enough glacial and inter-glacial periods; giving an adequate sample? Would any evidence...
  9. F

    Ferris Wheel & Ice Cream (circular and projectile motion?)

    Homework Statement A Ferris wheel with radius R turns with a constant angular velocity \omega. A child rides the Ferris wheel with a fresh ice cream cone. When the child reaches an angular position \varthetas [see diagram below], she is so distracted that she tips the cone and drops the nice...
  10. F

    What Is the Child's Acceleration Relative to the Ice?

    On a cold winter morning, a child sits on a sled resting on smooth ice. When the 9.50kg sled is pulled with a horizontal force of 31.0 N, it begins to move with an acceleration of 2.50 m/s^2. The 24.0kg child accelerates too, but with a smaller acceleration than that of the sled. Thus, the...
  11. K

    Making a Big Ice Block on a Budget

    I have an extremely old refrigerator. [and] I want to properly insulate the freezer part, fill it with water and make a large ice block. Then expose it to sunlight and see how it melts. Pure experiment. I need an idea of a hydrophobic material or something, so I can take the block out...
  12. S

    Is Hot Ice Possible? | Learn About Water Solid State Limits

    I'm curious about about an upper limit of temperature at which water can no longer exist in a solid state even as pressure increases. There are "ice" phase states such as VII and X which are apparently solid up to 600K under pressures over 10^9 Pa. Phase X is called a "proton ordered" state. Is...
  13. EnumaElish

    Liquid ice cream tastes pretty good

    I discovered this by accident and decided to duly inform the scientific community. Same great taste without the hassle (or the cold); it's faster & easier to consume (e.g. during the commute), so the question is, why isn't it marketed widely?
  14. I

    Metal inside a microwave oven -> ice?

    Metal inside a microwave oven --> ice? When I was younger, I placed water inside a tin pan and placed it inside a microwave. I tuned it on, sparks went everywhere and I quickly turned it off. I took the pan out and it was solid ice. How? A while ago I read an article in New Scientist that...
  15. marcus

    Is There Ice on Mars? New Evidence from Fresh Meteorite Craters

    http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/09/water_water_everywhere.php Nasa press release from 24 September. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/newsroom/pressreleases/20090924a.html Photos of fresh meteorite craters show white at estimated depths of 1 - 3 meters. The white material goes away...
  16. Z

    Calculate Heat of Fusion of Ice

    Calculate heat of fusion.? find the heat of fusion of ice using the ffg. data obtained from an experiment: wt. of brass calorimeter = 50 g specific heat of brass calorimeter = 0.09 cal/g-°C m of ice= 20.45 g at 0°C TF= 20 °C mH2O = 200 g at 30°C
  17. S

    Calculating Enthalpy Change of Ice Melting in Water

    If I have a piece of ice melting in a water and eventually comes to equilibrium with the water... The the total enthalpy change includes the following right? Heat absorbed for ice to get to 0 degrees Heat absorbed for ice to melt to water Heat absorbed for the melted ice water to come to...
  18. Pengwuino

    Are there any walk-in options at Sonic Drive Thru?

    Does anyone go to Sonic Drive Thru? Man, they have some awesome crushed ice! The ice is a little under a cubic cm each, small, and I love it! Is there anyway to get ice like this at home? Some sort of super perfect ice crusher made from the most high tech, cutting edge materials man has ever...
  19. Andre

    Climate scepticism and ice cores

    In the thread about mammoths and climate scepticism, we have seen that the fossil remains of the Arctic Siberian mammoth steppe suggest that is was actually warmer than today, at least during summers. This mammth steppe existed throughout most of the final stages of ice age, the late Wisconian...
  20. D

    Measuring Force of Expansion When Water Freezes - DCM

    Anyone who lives where it's cold enough to freeze water pipes can relate to the following question. Is it possible to measure or calculate the force of the expansion when water freezes? I hope that makes sense? I have seen everything from schedule 40 PVC crack and bust open and of course...
  21. G

    The Mystery of Dry Ice Smoke: Is it CO2?

    Does anyone know why you can see the smoke coming from dry ice? Is it actually CO2? It does not make sense to me, why could I see CO2 evaporating, but I cannot see it normally? Is it the moisture in the air that I can see reacting with the cold CO2?
  22. F

    Specific heat capacity, latent heat => ice water steam mixture

    Homework Statement A quantity of 100g of ice at 0°C and 50g steam at 100°C are added to a container that has 150g water at 30°C. What is the final temp of the container? Ignore the container itself in the calc. Homework Equations Q=mc (change in T) Q=mLThe Attempt at a Solution I know how to...
  23. D

    How to calculate the energy of the ice absorbs heat then becomes water

    as the topic asks but, if i want to know the energy of the 0 Centigrade melt into 0 Centigrade water, how to calculate it? i mean i don't know how to use the equation Q=c*m*t, 'cause the specific heat of water and that of ice are different
  24. T

    Solving for Ice: Coffee Cooling With Heat Exchange

    Homework Statement You are given 2.5 102 g of coffee (same specific heat as water) at 70.0°C. In order to cool this to 60.0°C, how much ice (at 0.0°C) must be added? Neglect heat content of the cup and heat exchanges with the surroundings. Homework Equations Q=(m ice)(c ice)(delta T...
  25. L

    Relative density of ice in cylinder

    Homework Statement A measuring cylinder contains 60cm3 of oil at 0 degrees celsius .When a piece of ice is dropped into the cylinder,it sank completely in oil and the oil level rose to 90 cm3 mark.When the ice melted the oil level came down to 87cm3 mark.The relative density of ice is...
  26. E

    An ice cube floating in water, what is the volume of the part under water?

    The Problem Hi, I just got this question in a physics class that I am taking, I have been looking at it for about 30 minutes and can't seem to crack it, probably doesn't help that I'm learning it in another language but anyways. A Ice cube of temperature 0 degress Celsius is floating on water...
  27. T

    Heat and Mass: Raising Ice and Water Temperatures

    Homework Statement Given that ice has a specific heat that is half of that of water, does it take more thermal energy to raise the temperature of 5 grams of water or 5 grams of ice by 6 degrees Celsius? Homework Equations Q=mc delta t The Attempt at a Solution So I think it...
  28. M

    How to prevent ice from forming?

    Hi, and thanks a million time for reading me! I have to imagine an experiment: An Ice cube (a supposed sentient, living Ice cube) can reform itself by gathering the moisture in the air to increase his size or remain as it is when the temperature makes it melts. -Now I have to prevent the...
  29. Phrak

    What Are Ice Spikes and How Do They Form?

    I wasn't aware of this. Very cool. http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/icespikes/icespikes.htm"
  30. M

    Ice Floats: Calculating Water Level Percent

    Homework Statement If ice floats in water, how many percent of it show above the water level? density of water=1000kg/m^3 density of ice=920kg/m^3Homework Equations I really don't know how to start and what I have to do with those densities...just give me a hint. solution would be 8%
  31. K

    What is the entropy change of ice to water and water to vapor?

    1.) What is the entropy change of a 33.0 g ice cube that melts completely in a bucket of water whose temperature is just above the freezing point of water? (J/deg) 2.) What is the entropy change of a 7.3 g spoonful of water that evaporates completely on a hot plate whose temperature is...
  32. A

    Buoyancy problem and density of ice

    Homework Statement The density of ice is 920kg/m^3, and the density of sea water is 1030kg/m^3. What is the fraction of the total volume of an iceberg that is exposed? given: density sea water = 1030kg/m^3 density ice = 920kg/m^3 Homework Equations density water/density ice...
  33. S

    Latent heat comparing ice to wood

    You bought two kilograms of ice at -10 degrees celcius for your cooler when a friend suggests to instead use two kilograms of wood at -10 degrees celsius. Why should you stick with your ice? Thermal Conductivities Latent Heats Specific Heats Answer with either Good Reason, True but Irrelevant...
  34. M

    Find Ice Mass to Make Water Temp 29°C

    Homework Statement An insulated beaker with negligible mass contains liquid water with a mass of 0.275kg and a temperature of 77.7. How much ice at a temperature of -17.4 must be dropped into the water so that the final temperature of the system will be 29.0? Take the specific heat of liquid...
  35. B

    How to Determine the Depth of an Ice Cube Floating in Water?

    Homework Statement A cube of ice whose edge measures 20.8 mm is floating in a glass of ice-cold water with one of its faces parallel to the water's surface. How far below the water surface is the bottom face of the block? Homework Equations P=F/A, P2-P1=\rhogh The Attempt at a...
  36. B

    How Much Heat is Needed to Melt 24.0 kg of Ice?

    Homework Statement A 24.0 kg sample of ice is at 0.00°C. How much heat is needed to melt it? (For water Lf = 334 kJ/kg and Lv = 2257 kJ/kg.) A)5.42*10^4 kJ B)0.00 kJ C)8.02*10^3 kJ D)2.19*10^6 kJ Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  37. S

    How Do Ice Skaters' Speeds Affect Their Rotation Upon Grabbing a Rod?

    [b]1. Two ice skaters, each with mass M = 72.5 kg, both moving with speed V = 9 m/s, approach each other along straight-line parallel paths that are separated by a distance of D = 3.6 m. When directly opposite each other, the skaters grab the ends of a light rod that is the same length as the...
  38. G

    Wave of phase change (MOVIE: Hot ice how-to)

    Hot ice solidifies instantaneously when its cold... http://www.youtube.com/v/aC-KOYQsIvU Are there really any oscillations or waves of different states (alternating states) in materials? Perhaps gradient of heat or a bump of pressure spreading? Sound? Electricity?
  39. Z

    Calculating Pressure Increase from Ice Expansion in an Engine Block

    Homework Statement When water freezes, it expands about 9.10%. What would be the pressure increase inside your automobile engine block if the water in it froze? The bulk modulus of ice is 2.00 multiplied by 10^9 N/m2. Homework Equations Delta P=-B*(Delta V)/V The Attempt at a...
  40. T

    How Far Will the Ice Cube Travel Up the Slope After Being Released?

    Homework Statement A 49 g ice cube can slide without friction up and down a 31° slope. The ice cube is pressed against a spring at the bottom of the slope, compressing the spring 11.9 cm. The spring constant is 25 N/m. When the ice cube is released, what distance will it travel up the slope...
  41. S

    Tectonics driven by ice mass changes?

    Increasing glacification creates crustal tension pulling apart the mid ocean trench zones? Decreasing glaciation sucks out the stuffing and wreaks havok with compressive stresses, violent crustal crumpling and dropping of vunerable thin seafloor and mobile landmass plates? Seems a plausible...
  42. G

    What is the height of the ice above water level in each glass?

    Homework Statement Two Identical glasses are filled to the same level. One is filled with fresh water (density=1 gm/cm^3) and the other with salt water (density=1.025g/cm^3) Into each glass a cube of ice (density= 0.92 gm/cm^3) one cm on each side is placed. What is the height of the ice above...
  43. M

    Exploring Temperature & Mass Change When Ice Cubes are Dropped in Water

    A single 50 g ice cube is dropped into a thermally insulated container holding 200 g of water. The water is initially at 25 oC and the ice is initially at -15 oC. a) What is the final temperature of the system after is has come to thermal equilibrium ? b) In terms of mass, how much of...
  44. M

    Determine the ice cube temp change

    Trying to beat the heat of the last summer, a physics student went to the local toy store and purchased a plastic child's swimming pool. Upon returning home, she filled it with 200 liters of water at 25oC. Realizing that the water would probably not be cool enough, she threw ice cubes from her...
  45. M

    Floating Ice Block: Height & Penguin Capacity

    A rectangular block of ice 5 m on each side and 0.5 m thick floats in seawater. The density of the seawater is 1025 kg/m3. The density of ice is 917 kg/m3. a) How high does the top of the ice block float above the water level? b) How many penguins of mass 19 kg each can stand on the ice...
  46. S

    How Is the Specific Latent Heat of Fusion for Ice Calculated?

    Homework Statement Determine the specific latent heat of fusion of ice given the amount of time it takes the ice to melt (150 seconds). Energy is supplied to the ice at 530 W. The sample is .25 kg. Homework Equations Q= ml The Attempt at a Solution (Time * 530W) = .25kg * L 150...
  47. S

    Thermodynamics: Finding Specific Heat of Ice

    Homework Statement It takes 15 seconds to warm ice 15 degrees ( -15 degrees celsius to 0 degrees celsius). The ice has a mass of .25 kg. The energy is supplied at 530 W to the ice. Homework Equations Q = mc delta T The Attempt at a Solution I plugged in all the information for Q...
  48. R

    What is her speed relative to the ice surface?

    A 44 kg girl is standing on a plank that has a mass of 170 kg. The plank, originally at rest, is free to slide on a frozen lake, which is a flat, frictionless supporting surface. The girl begins to walk along the plank at a constant speed of 1.37 m/s relative to the plank. What is her speed...
  49. M

    Energy added to Ice- determine final temperature

    Homework Statement A 10 kg block of ice has a temperature of -8°C. The pressure is one atmosphere. The block absorbs 4.17 x10^6 J of heat. What is the final temperature of the liquid water? Q=4.17x10^6J T_0=-8 Mass=10kg 4184= specific heat of water 2000=specific heat of ice...
  50. P

    How much ice has melted during the last 50 years?

    By and large, it has been retreating glaciers, ice shelves and a general reduction in the thickness of ice masses over the last century, and more particularly, the last 25 years, that has alerted the world to the global warming. Is it known by how much, approximately, the worlds store of ice...
Back
Top