I Like Math and Science
If you fill a glass with ice cubes to the top, then fill the same glass with water until one more drop and it will over flow. When the ice melts will the glass over flow the sides of the glass?
80-89, M
Top | Newest First | Oldest First
PhoenixPhail · M
Heartlander · 80-89, M
This reminds me of a skill that one of my Brother-in-laws was so proud of. His ability to pour a shot-glass of tequila to overflow without spilling a drop, or even a micro-drop. He loved to demonstrate; yes, you can overfill without spilling thanks to the cohesive molecules that hold together before surrendering to gravity. If you stop pouring at a precise instant there will be a slight bulge at the surface, which can be observed by laying the side of one's head on the bar surface and you can actually see the the bulge or crown that rises slightly above the rim of the shot glass.
But that was only half of the skill.
The other half was to chug it without spilling a drop. While he almost always succeeded in accomplishing the first, this second skill was more hit-or-miss, mostly miss. But he always gave it 4 or 5 attempts before his wife made him quit.
But that was only half of the skill.
The other half was to chug it without spilling a drop. While he almost always succeeded in accomplishing the first, this second skill was more hit-or-miss, mostly miss. But he always gave it 4 or 5 attempts before his wife made him quit.
SomeMichGuy · M
@Heartlander Interesting...so it has an outward-bulging meniscus like mercury (Hg), rather than an inward-bulging meniscus like water (H2O)...
LynnLIcata · 80-89, F
@Heartlander He sounds like a very interesting character! I enjoyed reading that.
ninalanyon · 61-69, T
@Heartlander There aren't many bars that I would be willing to lay my head on!
Highonheels · 51-55, M
Im pretty sure the answer to this is NO it will not over flow because ice takes up space in the glass which is called diplacement so as the ice melts (returns to its liquid form) it just takes the place of the ice (its solid form) since ice is just water in a solid form as it returns to a liquid form its just replacincing the space it took up as a solid rather it fills in the now empty space that it took up as a solid , or something like that. RIGHT
turbineman40 · 80-89, M
@Highonheels You are correct. The melting ice releases the trapped air reducing the total volume of the ice thus giving more room for the liquid water. The glass will not over flow.
Andromedanian · 22-25, M
I would say no, because it's still the same amount of H20, just changes from solid to liquid state, am I wrong? Hehe
SomeMichGuy · M
@Andromedanian 1/2 right.
The water doesn't overflow, that's true.
But the it isn't the same quantity of water, even if you made an exact bit of ice which you could completely slide into the glass. Why? Well, see (for instance) @PhoenixPhail's answer, but you already know this.
Ask yourself if ice sinks or "swims"...?
It floats, right? So H2O is an oddball substance which EXPANDS when it freezes: a given mass of water goes UP in [u]volume[/u] when it freezes, so the [u]density[/u] (mass per unit volume) goes DOWN.
So the
(density of ice) < (density of liquid water)
which is why it floats.
AND why a glass even [u]completely[/u] full of ICE has FEWER H2O molecules than the [i]same[/i] glass when it is [u]completely[/u] full of liquid water.
It's a great question to make people think, and to which we all know the answer, if we just stop and think about a drink with ice.
Does that make sense?
The water doesn't overflow, that's true.
But the it isn't the same quantity of water, even if you made an exact bit of ice which you could completely slide into the glass. Why? Well, see (for instance) @PhoenixPhail's answer, but you already know this.
Ask yourself if ice sinks or "swims"...?
It floats, right? So H2O is an oddball substance which EXPANDS when it freezes: a given mass of water goes UP in [u]volume[/u] when it freezes, so the [u]density[/u] (mass per unit volume) goes DOWN.
So the
(density of ice) < (density of liquid water)
which is why it floats.
AND why a glass even [u]completely[/u] full of ICE has FEWER H2O molecules than the [i]same[/i] glass when it is [u]completely[/u] full of liquid water.
It's a great question to make people think, and to which we all know the answer, if we just stop and think about a drink with ice.
Does that make sense?
turbineman40 · 80-89, M
@SomeMichGuy Makes complete sense to me
Well done explaination
Well done explaination
SomeMichGuy · M
@turbineman40 Why, thank you, asker of good questions!
cold shrinks heat expands.. simple i like science also.. math is just a fact.. grin mark
but it seem like not with water.. reading the comments below..
but it seem like not with water.. reading the comments below..
SomeMichGuy · M
Great question, still love it!
TexChik · F
nope
Lostpoet · M
no
Zonuss · 41-45, M
Science was fun
Especially leaving about animals.
And planets in the solar system.
Especially leaving about animals.
And planets in the solar system.
This comment is hidden.
Show Comment
SomeMichGuy · M
No. The density of ice is less than the density of water
ρ_{ice} < ρ_{water}
so, as the ice melts, it decreases in volume. Even if you fill the glass entirely with ice, the melted ice will not overflow the glass.
It might be easier to see if one considers it in reverse: if the glass were full of water, then frozen, the ice would expand and go over the upper edge of the glass. So the quantity "water frozen in ice which is only to the edge of the glass" is clearly less than the quantity "water up to the edge of the glass which is then frozen in ice".
ρ_{ice} < ρ_{water}
so, as the ice melts, it decreases in volume. Even if you fill the glass entirely with ice, the melted ice will not overflow the glass.
It might be easier to see if one considers it in reverse: if the glass were full of water, then frozen, the ice would expand and go over the upper edge of the glass. So the quantity "water frozen in ice which is only to the edge of the glass" is clearly less than the quantity "water up to the edge of the glass which is then frozen in ice".
This comment is hidden.
Show Comment
turbineman40 · 80-89, M
@LongDistanceRecon636 you are correct! The glass will not over flow when the ice melts
4185philip · 70-79, M
turbineman40 · 80-89, M
@4185philip a very real possibility. Excellent answer and you are correct
4185philip · 70-79, M
@turbineman40 Thank you. Just simple physics.
4185philip · 70-79, M
turbineman40 · 80-89, M
@4185philip correct
KatieLouise · 31-35, F
AmySatinpants · 70-79, M
black4white · 56-60, M
So if you fill the same glass to the top with ice water ...yes the glass will over flow when the ice melts..
turbineman40 · 80-89, M
@black4white the water/ice has no way to increase in volume therefore the glass will not overflow.
black4white · 56-60, M
@turbineman40 awesome I like brain teasers like that pretty awesome
Highonheels · 51-55, M
@black4white yes if you fill a glass with water then add ice yes it will overflow but the question states that you fill the glass with ice first then add water , since the ice creates a displacement of the water the melting ice just fills in the place that it took as a solid.
4185philip · 70-79, M
No one seems to have taken account of the fact that some of the ice will be above the water level so the level may rise as this melts. Would like a scientists view on this. We know the total mass will be less.
turbineman40 · 80-89, M
@4185philip yes, the ice will float in the water. As the ice melts the entrapped air is released, the volume of the container with not increase so no water will be spilled from the glass.
ninalanyon · 61-69, T
@turbineman40 It won't overflow even if the ice and water contain no air because the density of pure ice is lower than the density of pure water which means that the ice displaces an equal mass of water but smaller volume (the ice will float) so when the ice melts to match the water temperature it will occupy less space.
VelvetDoll · 26-30, F
It shouldn't, as ice cubes take more space than liquid water. Am I right?
turbineman40 · 80-89, M
@VelvetDoll you are correct as the ice melts the entrapped air will be released so the water will not overflow
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@VelvetDoll They take more space than the water from which they froze, yes. 10% more, in fact, so of 90% of the density of the liquid.
Entrapped air bubbles will make the cube fractionally bigger still, but what matters is the [i]water[/i] in both its liquid and solid states.
Entrapped air bubbles will make the cube fractionally bigger still, but what matters is the [i]water[/i] in both its liquid and solid states.
Heartlander · 80-89, M
No. Water expands as it transitions into a frozen state .... and should contract as it melts, keeping the water level equal.
turbineman40 · 80-89, M
@Heartlander correct no water will spill
Degbeme · 70-79, M
No because the ice displaces water.
This message was deleted by its author.
turbineman40 · 80-89, M
@Spaceblaster you might be surprised at their response. Ask the question with a serious face as if you don't know the answer
This message was deleted by its author.
turbineman40 · 80-89, M
@Spaceblaster please report your experience. It will be interesting