Dr. Science freezes water

Super-cooled water freezing on queue - it takes a minor shock to initiate the formation of the first ice crystals. Once those form, it's a cascade, and the whole bottle freezes.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• science
• physics
• geektoy

[rocket881]

It works with beer and other liquids that have a small amount of impurity, like CO2. Impurity depresses the freezing point, so it's colder than 32degF. The flick is enough to pull the impurity out of the solvent, and it freezes. Works best with beer.

[rotflmike]

Are you crazy? It works best while DRINKING beer!! ;-) Why ruin a beer, when you can drink one, and have a cold water for later? :-)

[mhstudios]

how did you do that?

[rotflmike]

I ..

*put bottles in the freezer,

*took them out some time later,

*flicked them to see if they'd freeze on-queue.

If they're already solid, you've waited too long. :)

[doba1824]

its probably supercooled water, where the water is just at the point where it can freeze but if the water is clean enough and nothing disturbs it, it can get just under normal freezing temperature then all you need to do is provide a little energy (where he hits the bottle) to start the crystal formation of the water.

[exgenica]

Crystal forming/cascading is most correct.The micro-environmental increase in pressure due to physical shock causes localized freezing. If the water is balanced right at freezing point, then if you either decrease temperature or increase pressure that creates the first crystal which as stated cascades, freezing more material.

No special powders/chemicals required. I've done the same thing with ice trays, and plastic bottles of tap water. It does not need to be a sealed container.

[rotflmike]

No, it's an unopened fresh bottle of water, no additives.

[sharkbait123456]

wow tats way cool how you do that?? the only cool thing i can make is a solid liquid its bad:)

[Jetzxe]

Lol no no, it's magic.

[JetJockey87]

watched conqueror of shambala much lately?

[LokiClock]

There are tons of Gypsies in Texas for some reason. Also, no, not a powder, it's supercooling. It happens when water it cold enough to change state, but doesn't have enough energy to. So, when you give it energy by, say, shaking it up, it uses that to change state.