SCIENCE FAIR - Which Shape of Ice Cube Melts The Fastest

DOES SURFACE
AR
MELTING RATE
OF
EA AFFECT THE
ICE CUBES ?
PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiment was to find out if ice cubes, made from the
same amount of water, but with different surface areas would have the same
melting speed.
I got interested in this during the last ice storm, as I watched the snow and ice
melt.
HYPOTHESIS
My hypothesis is that an ice cube made with 12 Tablespoons of water and
having a surface area of 61.4 Square Inches will melt faster than ice cubes
made with the same amount of water, but with different surface areas of 26.8,
28.8, 32.9, and 35.6 Square Inches.
My hypothesis is based on information I read that ice cubes with less surface
area will melt more slowly. Ice cubes that have a lower surface area have more
ice inside them than what is exposed on the outside. Because of that, the ice
cube with the most surface area should melt the fastest, even though they all
contain the same amount of water.
EXPERIMENT
DESIGN
The constants in this experiment were:
*The same amount of water in the ice cubes
*The same temperature of the freezer
*The same source of water
*The same type of material in the "melting" container
*The same room temperature
The variables in this experiment were:

*The different surface areas of the ice cubes.
*The time it took the ice cubes to melt.
To measure the variables:
*The surface area of the ice cubes will be calculated.
*The melting will be timed, in minutes & seconds, and rounded to the
nearest minute.
MATERIALS
QUANTITY ITEM DESCRIPTION
1 Plastic Container "A" 2-7/8" Diameter x 2-1/4" Tall
1 Plastic Container "B" 3-1/2" Diameter x 1-1/4" Tall
1 Plastic Container "C" 2-3/4" Diameter x 3-3/4" Tall
1 Plastic Container "D" 7-3/4" Diameter x 5-1/2" Tall
1 Plastic Container "E" 5-3/4" Long x 4-1/4" Wide
1 Set of Measuring Spoons
1 Digital Thermometer
1 Electronic Timer
1 Freezer
1 Digital Camera
5 10-Inch Lengths of String
60 Tablespoons of Water
PROCEDURES
1. Get all needed materials.
2. Label all containers used to make ice cubes.
3. Put 12 Tablespoons of water into each container.
4. Knot each piece of string to make a loop for lifting, supporting, and
handling ice cubes.
5. Put a string loop into each container, sticking out far enough to put a
finger through.
6. Set filled containers in freezer carefully, without spilling any water.

7. Allow to freeze for 12 hours.
8. Remove an ice cube from a container, measure, and hang, at a temperature

of 71°F.
9. Start timer immediately.
10. After the ice has completely melted, stop the timer.
11. Record all data.
12. Repeat steps 8-11 for each of the containers.
RESULTS
The original purpose of this experiment was to find out if ice cubes, made from
the same amount of water, but with different surface areas, would have the
same melting speed.
The results of the experiment were that an ice cube. made with 12 tablespoons
of water, having 61.4 square inches of surface area would melt faster than ice
cubes containing the same amount of water but having less surface area.
MELTING
TIME
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
A B C
(26.8) D (28.8) (32.9) (35.6)
E (61.4)
RESEARCH
http://www.ask.com/question/does-the-shape-of-ice-affect-its-melting-rate
http://www.ehow.com/info_8686459_shapes-affect-rate-ice-melts.html
http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/ice-melting/
CONCLUSION
My hypothesis was that an ice cube, made with 12 Tablespoons of water and
having a surface area of 61.4 Square Inches will melt faster than ice cubes
made with the same amount of water, but with different surface areas of 26.8,
28.8, 32.9, and 35.6 Square Inches.
The results show that this hypothesis should be accepted and that ice cubes,
made with the same amount of water, will melt faster as their surface are
increases. I really enjoyed this experiment and learned many things from it.
If I did this experiment again, I would repeat the experiment several times to
see if the results would be the same each time.
REBECCA
RODRIGUEZ

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DOES SURFACE

The variables in this experiment were:

To measure the variables:

*The surface area of the ice cubes will be calculated.

1 Plastic Container "A" 2-7/8" Diameter x 2-1/4" Tall

1 Plastic Container "B" 3-1/2" Diameter x 1-1/4" Tall

1 Plastic Container "C" 2-3/4" Diameter x 3-3/4" Tall

1 Plastic Container "D" 7-3/4" Diameter x 5-1/2" Tall

1 Plastic Container "E" 5-3/4" Long x 4-1/4" Wide

1 Set of Measuring Spoons

5 10-Inch Lengths of String

2. Label all containers used to make ice cubes.

3. Put 12 Tablespoons of water into each container.

6. Set filled containers in freezer carefully, without spilling any water.

8. Remove an ice cube from a container, measure, and hang, at a temperature

9. Start timer immediately.

11. Record all data.

12. Repeat steps 8-11 for each of the containers.

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