Emily Atashkari Interdisciplinary Design Lab

The Effect of Temperature Differences on Melting Ice

Research Question:
How do different temperatures affect the rate at which a cube of ice will melt over a set period
of time?

Hypothesis:
If the difference between the starting temperature of the ice and the temperature of the room
it’s in is greater, then it will melt faster.

Explanation:
The hypothesis states that the difference between the temperature of the ice before and after
it’s placed in the temperature-controlled room will have a significant impact on the speed at
which it melts. The length of time that it takes ice to melt is dependent on many factors, the
most relevant to this experiment being: the amount of ice, the starting temperature of said ice,
the temperature of the ice’s surroundings, whether the ice is in contact with water, and whether
the ice is in a closed container.

The amount of ice being used for each trial is a 1-foot cube weighing 26.02kg. This is an
appropriate size considering the length of time during which the ice will be kept in the
temperature-controlled rooms. In the example used from Quora (2017), a -40oC meter-long
block of ice placed at 20oC will take several days (even up to a week) to melt. Therefore,
monitoring a relatively smaller ice cube for half a week should produce detailed results that
show more when analyzed. Ice is the solid form of water, and unlike most other liquids, water
expands when frozen. This is because water particles form hexagonal bonds; when it is in the
liquid state, the particles vibrate relatively close to each other, and when it is in the solid state,
they bond with one another which creates strong connections that are difficult to break unless
heated (given more energy). These hexagonal bonds create spaces between the ice particles,
making them farther apart than they were in the liquid state.

During this experiment, the only solid surface that the ice will be touching is a plastic table with
holes that it is placed on, the holes being there to drain out the water effectively, therefore
eliminating both factors from being significant, since they are consistent throughout. Because of
their temperature difference, the heat from the air diffuses into the ice, causing it to warm up.
Since the rooms are temperature-controlled, the heat that the air loses will be replaced, and the
cycle will repeat, causing the outer layers of the ice to melt (this may even work with the -5oC
setting for this experiment). The room set to 5oC will continuously transfer the most heat since it
is the hottest, causing the ice kept in that room to melt the fastest. It is the opposite with the -
5oC room; the air contains the least heat, so even with the help of diffusion, it will at most have a
minimal impact on the ice.
Emily Atashkari Interdisciplinary Design Lab

The independent variable in this experiment is the amount of heat applied in each of the three
settings that the ice cubes will be placed in; the three temperatures they will be kept at are 5oC,
0oC, and -5oC. Each of these are unusually warm temperatures that the Arctic has been
experiencing over recent years, 5oC being the most out of place compared to the natural climate
of this region. Since the melting point of water is 0 degrees Celsius, the ice cube kept at -5oC will
presumably not melt during the experiment. However, since it will be -50oC before placed in the
temperature-controlled room, the 45oC temperature increase will most likely have an effect on
the ice, and may even cause it to melt a little bit. In the Arctic, the glaciers continue to melt over
time when the temperatures are around -5oC; the same may be applicable in this experiment
since it’s replicating that environment.

The dependent variable in this experiment is the amount of ice left after the procedure has been
completed. This will be measured using both the final dimensions (inches) and weight of the ice
(kg), like done at the beginning of the experiment before the ice is placed in the temperature-
controlled rooms. Testing both the dimensions and weight of the ice cube provides more
accurate results for two reasons. Firstly, using two different things to compare each block of ice
makes it easier to draw accurate conclusions from the findings of the experiment. Secondly, two
blocks of ice may have the same dimensions, but one may be more compact and denser than the
other, causing it to weigh more, meaning that it actually melted less.

One of the controlled variables in this experiment is the amount of time during which the ice will
be kept in the temperature-controlled rooms. The decision for this experiment to last 4 days was
made because due to the large size of the ice, there may not be a notable difference after just 24
hours in the temperature-controlled room; especially for the ice in the -5oC room, since melting
at this temperature only occurs after long periods of time in the Arctic. To ensure that the results
correctly depict half-a-week in the Arctic, the blocks of ice will be examined every 24 hours
subsequent to the start of the experiment. This will also be done so that trends in the data can
be shown and a more precise rate of melting can be found if desired.

Another one of the controlled variables in this experiment is the starting temperature of each ice
cube, which will be the same throughout all 9 ice cubes in order to sustain consistency. This
temperature will be about -50 degrees Celsius because that is the average annual temperature in
the Arctic, and the conditions of the ice in this experiment are meant to mimic the conditions of
the glaciers in the Arctic. Placing the ice cubes at this temperature prior to conducting the
experiment will ensure that the results are similar to what can be found with glaciers in the
Arctic, only amplified due to the sizes of the ice.

Variables:
Variable What it is How it will be controlled/manipulated
The first 3 cubes of ice will be kept at 5 degrees Celsius.
Independent Amount of
The second 3 cubes of ice will be kept at 0 degrees Celsius.
Variable heat applied
The third 3 cubes of ice will be kept at -5 degrees Celsius.
Dependent Amount of This will be done by recording both the finishing dimensions (inches) and the
Variable ice left finishing mass (kg) of each ice block and using a fraction to compare it to the
Emily Atashkari Interdisciplinary Design Lab

starting dimensions and mass. Qualitative observations will also be made and
recorded for each cube of ice.
Heat will be applied to each cube of ice for 4 days and checked every 24
Controlled Amount of
hours to successfully show a change in the ice mass similar to one in the
Variable time
Arctic.
Each cube of ice will be a 1-foot cube at the start of the experiment.
Controlled Ice starting
The mass of each cube of ice will be measured before and after the
Variable size
experiment. It should be 26.02kg (according to Aqua-Calc).
Controlled Ice starting Each cube of ice will be kept in a freezer at -50oC before the experiment
Variable temperature because that is the average temperature in Antarctica.

Materials:
 Computer (to record results)
 9 1-foot cubes of ice
 A scale
 A 1-foot ruler
 3 plastic* tables (big enough for 3 1-foot
ice cubes) with holes in them to drain
out the water from the melted ice
 9 1-foot clear plastic boxes
 Precise hour timer
 A freezer room at -50oC big enough for 9
1-foot cubes of ice
 3 temperature-controlled rooms
(https://www.grainger.com/category/lab
-supplies/lab-ovens-heating-and-
refrigeration/temperature-controlled-
rooms), one at 5oC, one at 0oC, and one
at -5oC

*The tables must be plastic because metal is a conductor and would, therefore, have a sizeable
impact on the results of this experiment.

Procedure:
1. Place 1 plastic table in each of the 3 temperature-controlled rooms.
2. Obtain 9 1-foot cubes of ice.
3. Store all 9 cubes of ice in the freezer room at -50oC until they have all reached this
temperature.
4. Measure and record the mass of each cube in kilograms (should be 26.02kg).
5. Place 3 of the cubes directly into the 5oC temperature-controlled room on top of the table.
6. Repeat step 5 with 3 of the other cubes of ice in the 0oC temperature-controlled room.
7. Repeat step 5 with the 3 remaining cubes of ice in the -5oC temperature-controlled room.
8. Every 24 hours (measured using the timer): measure and record the dimensions of each
block of ice in inches using the ruler, along with the weight of each block of ice in kilograms
using the scale.
9. After 96 hours (4 days): no longer repeat step 8 and conclude the experiment.

Sources:
Aqua-Calc. (n.d.). Volume to Weight conversions. Retrieved January 29, 2019, from
https://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/volume-to-weight
Emily Atashkari Interdisciplinary Design Lab

Climates to travel. (n.d.). Climate – Antarctica. Retrieved January 17, 2019, from
https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/antarctica
Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Structures of ice. Retrieved January 31, 2019, from
https://www.britannica.com/science/water/Structures-of-ice
ItsNotWhatItsWhy. (2015, July 26). Why do ice cubes melt faster in cold water than in boiled water?.
Retrieved January 29, 2019, from https://itsnotwhatitswhy.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/why-do-ice-
cubes-melt-faster-in-cold-water-than-in-boiled-water/
Quora (2017, July 27). How long does it take for ice to melt at average room temperature?. Retrieved
January 17, 2019, from https://www.quora.com/How-long-does-it-take-for-ice-to-melt-at-average-
room-temperature
Quora (2018, May 4). How much time does it take for ice to melt?. Retrieved January 29, 2019, from
https://www.quora.com/How-much-time-does-it-take-for-ice-to-melt
The Guardian. (2018, February 27). Arctic warming: scientists alarmed by ‘crazy’ temperature rises.
Retrieved January 28, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/27/arctic-
warming-scientists-alarmed-by-crazy-temperature-rises

Observations:
Quantitative:
5 degrees Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average Average
Celsius (inches) (inches) (inches) (kg) (kg) (kg) (inches) (kg)
24 hours
48 hours
72 hours
96 hours

0 degrees Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average Average

Celsius (inches) (inches) (inches) (kg) (kg) (kg) (inches) (kg)
24 hours
48 hours
72 hours
96 hours

-5 degrees Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average Average

Celsius (inches) (inches) (inches) (kg) (kg) (kg) (inches) (kg)
24 hours
48 hours
72 hours
96 hours

Qualitative:
Temperature
5 degrees Celsius 0 degrees Celsius -5 degrees Celsius
of Room
Trial # Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
24 hours
48 hours
72 hours
Emily Atashkari Interdisciplinary Design Lab

96 hours