User:Glflegolas/Science Questions

Do you have a science question that you've always wanted answered? Ask on my message wall, or check this page for answers to some of the questions people have asked me, or ones that get asked all the time on the Internet.

Why do ice spikes form atop ice cubes when they're frozen?
This question is probably one of the most asked questions of all time. The reason why these ice spikes form is because water freezes from top to bottom. As the ice freezes fast under supercooled conditions, the surface can get covered except for a small hole. Water expands when it freezes. As freezing continues, the expanding ice under the surface forces the remaining water up through the hole and it freezes around the edge forming a hollow spike. Eventually, the whole thing freezes and the spike is left.

Note: This will not happen if you have a frost-free freezer, or if the ice cubes are placed directly on the evaporator coils of the freezer. If the water freezes from the bottom up, it doesn't have the problem of not having enough space, and you won't get spikes.