The Effect of Pressure on Ice

Fraylin Sanchez

Writing for Engineering

ENGL 21007 – E3

Professor Brown

March 3^rd, 2022

ABSTRACT

This experiment consists in placing a string with weights across a block of ice to see if the pressure the string applies to the block of ice will cause it to melt. The test showed that at the point where the string was exerting pressure on the ice it was melting, but the point just above the string where it had just passed was ice again. A real-world example of the phenomenon is when people step on ice causing it to melt and a layer of water forms on top making people slip.

INTRODUCTION

Pressure is a measure of the amount of force applied in one localized area. In this experiment pressure was applied to a block of ice to check the reaction it would have. This is relevant to when people walk on ice and slip due to a layer of water that forms when the foot applies pressure to the ice. This makes us ask the question that will be answered by performing the experiment. Does pressure melt ice or does pressure cut through the ice? Based on my experience with ice I believe that pressure indeed melts ice.

MATERIALS & METHODS

• Water
• Bucket
• Freezer
• Guitar G-string
• 2 5-pound weights
• Table

In order to perform this experiment first place a bucket of water in the freezer and let it freeze. Then continue on and remove the block of ice that was created and place it on top of a table. Grab a thin piece of string, such as the G-string found on a guitar, so that the force is more localized creating more pressure on the area, and attach two weights equal on each side of the string. It is important to make sure the weights used are the same on both sides so that equal forces pull on each side and are at equilibrium. Finally, place the string with the weights on top of the ice and check 3-4 hours later the change that has occured on the block of ice. Make sure the location where this experiment takes place is around 35˚ F to prevent the ice from melting due to heat.

RESULTS

 

DISCUSSION

The results of the experiment show that pressure indeed melts ice. It was observed that regelation takes place. When pressure was applied to the ice it melted and caused the string to move through the ice, but at the point above the string at which pressure was no longer being applied, the water turned back into ice. This confirms the hypothesis that pressure melts ice because the experimental results showed that at the point where pressure was applied the ice melted, but then froze again after the pressure was removed which shows that the pressure is the factor that melts ice. This was confirmed by trying to pull the block of ice apart to check if it was in one piece, which it was and by the string moving from the top to the bottom of the ice it shows the ice melted and refroze as the pressure was applied. Some limitations that can be found performing this experiment is the error that can be caused by performing it in a location that will cause the ice to melt too fast. Another problem that can happen while performing this experiment is if weights that are too heavy are used, it can cause a tremendous amount of pressure which can cause the ice to crack due to stress and provide incorrect experimental data.

CONCLUSION

The purpose of this experiment was to show that pressure melts ice. This is the reason that when we step on ice it feels slippery because the pressure we exert on the ice as we step on it causes a layer of water to form on top which causes the slipperiness. Regelation is the name of ice melting due to pressure and refreezing when the pressure is released. This can be demonstrated by placing a thin string around a block of ice, with a heavy weight attached to it. The pressure applied on the ice will make it melt at the point of contact with the string, allowing the string to pass through the block of ice. The path the string takes will refreeze as soon as pressure is relieved, so the ice block will remain intact even after wire passes completely through.

REFERENCE

Veritasium, “Does pressure melt ice?,” Youtube, 13-Aug-2011. [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM3zP72-rJE. [Accessed: 24-Feb-2022].