Regelation of Ice

When pressure is applied to ice, its melting point is reduced so it turns to water. When the pressure is removed, however, it turns back into ice. This process is called 'regelation.' Big thanks to Art of Ice Sculptures www.icesculpture.com.au who donated the beautiful block of ice.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• ice
• regelation
• pressure
• pressure melting
• states of matter
• experiments
• water
• melting point

[EmpereurNapoleonex]

lol wth is with people. Why are you noticing him being tired and not the experiment? This isn't "Derek @ 3am" video :D

Good job though. Your effort is noted.

I'm not a skeptic but I am wondering about what deelectronic said. What happens if you use a colder object for cutting?

[1veritasium]

@EmpereurNapoleonex Yes it should work with a cold object - I put the wire and weights in the freezer before I started, plus I think the write would have been around or below zero because it was in contact with the ice.

[topikito]

Would it be faster if there were more preasure? Maybe 2 bottles on each side will make it twice as fast?

[1veritasium]

@topikito experiments like this have been done but my trouble was the strength of the wire. I have a part 2 of this experiment, where I tried to use 2.5kg on each side (rather than 1.5kg) but the wire kept snapping.

[Desterado]

Would this experiment still work if the ambient temperature was 0 degrees or lower?

[1veritasium]

@Desterado yes - the pressure can reduce the melting point a degree or two so the ice becomes water under the wire - there are also some more complicated effects due to 'liquid-like' layers of water on the surface of ice even at very cold temperatures.

[ryukthekid]

I love it when I see that you uploaded a new video.

[godlikerefugee]

E-string? G-string?

C'mon derrick! Get your mind out of the gutter ! :D

[msfattytroll]

@1veritasium

Im surprised that guitar string is that weak

[CorruptReaper]

Although I know the principle for the experiment is true I don't think this was a very a good experiment (probably just due to lack of equipment). The ice block would refreeze a lot of the water over the duration it took to cut through. A smaller scale experiment would give truer results but clearly not as interesting:p

[wowsa0]

I was surprised at how smooth and nice looking the curve of the wire was inside the ice. I've done some thinking about it and I reckon it's a catenary, do you know if this is right? I also reckon the vertical distance between the peak of the wire and where it leaves the ice is equal to half the width of the ice block.

[bannanananans]

what if ice was in a vacum with no pressure what would happen to its melting point?

[gabygabi007]

Must try this when winter pop up.

[nuwenese]

IS THAT A CANUCKS SWEATER?!

[EmpereurNapoleonex]

@1veritasium Makes sense