Ice cubes

Today in science we were trying to make a match stick attach to ice. We used a Beaker but you can use a bowl, ice cube and salt. It worked for some people but for us it was a challenge to get it to stick at the end we did and we never gave up we first put water into the Beaker after the water was in the Beaker we dropped into the water we put the march stick on the ice and sprinkle salt were the mach was placed and waited we were so happy it worked it was a lot of fun.

You will need;

• A becker or bowl of cold water
• A matchstick
• An cube of ice
• Salt

Instructions:

1. Place the ice cube in the bowl of cold water
2. Place the match on top of the ice and then try to lift the ice cube
3. Put the matchstick back on the ice and sprinkle a little salt along the line where it touches the ice cube so it can stick
4. Wait for 30 seconds and then try to pick up the cube of ice again

What’s the science?

At first the ice cube and water are in equilibrium meaning that the rate of freezing and melting is the same.

This releases lots of energy in the form of heat, so everything gets colder, including the ice cube. Where there’s no salt (under the match) the ice cube refreezes, freezing the match in place.

Extra for experts:

Why do we sprinkle salt on icy roads? So the ice melts faster.