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How to Slow Down an Ice Cube From Melting

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Purpose

  • In this experiment I will be measuring the size of each ice cube by comparing the sizes left of each ice cube using a 1-5 grading system with 1 being the smallest and 5 being the largest. I will be using styrofoam, wax paper, aluminum foil, cardboard box, and a cloth towel to see which one will keep the ice cube from melting the best.

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  • Slowing down ice from melting can help us in many ways.

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Hypothesis

If I insulate separate ice cubes with wax paper, aluminum foil, styrofoam, cardboard box, and cloth towel then I think the wax paper will keep the ice the longest.

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Materials

  • Water
  • Ice Cube Tray
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Cardboard Box
  • Cloth Towel
  • Wax Paper
  • Styrofoam

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Procedure

  • Fill ice cube tray with water and freeze to make ice cubes.
  • Create an insulated container for an ice cube.
  • Start with a glass container with a lid.
  • Add something to provide insulation.
    • Suggestions: wax paper, aluminum foil, cardboard box, cloth towel, styrofoam
  • Add an ice cube to each container with insulation.
  • Then create a control ( an ice cube that won’t have any insulation.)
  • Put the lids on the containers and place your containers indoors in a spot that does not have direct sunlight.
  • Check the cubes every ten minutes and record how much they have melted.

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Data Table(s)

Time Elapsed/Materials Used

Styrofoam

Cardboard

Cloth

Wax Paper

Aluminum Foil

Control

10 mins

Still the biggest

5

5 with a few drips

4 cloth is little wet and cube is a bit smaller than 5s

Tiny puddle forming 4

3 already half the size it was

3 slightly bigger than the aluminum but about half its size

20 mins

5

5

4

3

2 smaller than control

2

30 mins

5

4

4

3

1 smaller than control

1

40 mins

4

3

3

2

1 smaller than control

1

50 mins

4 Slightly smaller than when we started

3

2

1 Almost gone

0 Gone

1 Almost gone

Measured from a scale 0=Gone *1=almost gone *2=small *3=half size *4=slightly smaller than original with small puddle forming *5=Largest (closest to original size)

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Watch the Ice Melt!

Time-lapsed

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the styrofoam kept the ice from melting the longest. I thought wax paper was going to be the best choice. The second best insulator was the cardboard.The worst insulator was the aluminum foil.The control was almost completely gone in 50 mins.I think the styrofoam was the best because the styrofoam contains the coldness of the ice cube.

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Real World Connection

  • Ice can be used for many things like keeping us cool on a hot summer day, keeping drinks cool, and also helping keep foods fresh.
  • Melting ice is also a big problem on Earth.
  • There are 3 types of ice found on Earth. Each one is important in its own way.
    • Sea ice - is the soil of the poles where algae grows, the foundation of the whole food chain.
    • Land ice - ice caps and glaciers are flood preventers to keep sea levels constant and protect our coastal cities.
    • Permafrost - stores almost 2x the amount of carbon currently in the atmosphere.
  • If the ice melts our world changes and it will affect every living thing in a negative way.
  • Ice is also important to the animals in the Arctic and we can still save the Arctic if we all do our part to help the planet.
  • https://www.ourplanet.com/en/video/why-do-we-need-ice/

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