Why does ice float in water?

1. 49

   Myn Is Meposted 13 years ago

   Why does ice float in water?
   
   

   replyreport
2. 62

   Physicshelpposted 13 years ago

   It's not a question solely of weight, but of density. When water freezes, the amount of hydrogen bonding (Attraction between slight imbalances in positive [hydrogen] and negative [oxygen] charges)  increases, resulting in the formation of a crystalline structure.  As it happens, this structure happens to be less dense (less molecules per unit volume)  than liquid water, and will hence float on top of, or in it.

   replyreport
   1. 48

      Noumanasrarposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      you have gone to far.

      replyreport
3. 0

   Chad Banksposted 13 years ago

   Because water expands as it turns into ice, and a pound of ice must therefore take up more room than a pound of water. Only about one-ninth of an iceberg floating in the sea is above water.

   replyreport
4. 60

   hush4444posted 13 years ago

   Archimedes' principle (paraphrased) - an object placed in water will float in direct proportion to the weight of the water it displaces.

   replyreport
   1. 48

      Noumanasrarposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      archimedes principle is for upthrust of liquids for volume of solid. ice floats on water due to its low density.

      replyreport
5. 48

   Noumanasrarposted 10 years ago

   ice floats on water  because when water is cooled its density becomes low . Density of ice is 973.1 (kilogram per cubic meter) where as water is 1000 (kilogram per cubic meter) due to its low density and high volume it floats over water.

   replyreport
6. 77

   melbelposted 9 years ago

   Because of the crystalline structure of ice, it is less dense than water. Water is the most dense at around 4 degrees F (just above freezing.) At temperatures above 4 degrees F, the density of water starts to decrease. Strange, eh? Water has lower density at 0 F than 4 F and lower density at say 10 F than 4 F.
   
   This goes to show how unique water is (and how fun it is to study!)

   replyreport