EXP-28

Cut Ice Cubes in Half like Magic

Speed up the melting process of ice with the help of a little pressure. Cut a piece of ice in half like magic and learn how this process relates to ice skating.

What you need

One ice cube, A piece of fishing line (or something similar) with a weight tied to each end, A container and some kind of a tray to keep things from getting wet.

What to do

  1. Turn the container upside down and put it on the tray.

  2. Place the ice cube on top of the upside down container.

  3. Rest the fishing line over the ice cube so that the weights are left dangling over the side of the container.

  4. Watch it for around 5 minutes.

What’s happening

The pressure from the two weights pulls the string through the ice cube by melting the ice directly under the fishing line. This is similar to ice skating where the blades of a skater melt the ice directly underneath, allowing the skater to move smoothly on a thin layer of water.