Regelation

Back to 4C - Change of state
PIRA index: 4C20.30

Description

Because pressure melts ice locally, a wire can go through a block of ice. As the wire goes through the ice, the melted part freezes back rapidly as the pressure is released, keeping the block intact once the wire has completely gone through the block.

Equipment

• Block of ice
• Tough and thin metal wire
• Weights (6 kg)
• Support for the ice (high enough to suspend the weights and non-conductive so that the block of ice doesn't melt prematurely).
• Big container

Instructions

• Put the support in the container.
• Place the block of ice on the support
• Attach to equal weight on each extremity of the wire.
• Place the middle of the wire on the block of ice, suspending the weights on each side.
• Add the remaining weights equally on each side
• Wait 20 - 40 min for the wire to go through the block (Continue lecture or show other demonstrations)
• Observe that block of ice is not split in two.