Dave -
That sounds like a really cool way to raise money -
very creative. My suggestion would be that you try it once before-hand
if you want to know about how long it will take. This is because there
really isn't any easy way to estimate it with equations. There
certainly are equations out there that are used to figure out how fast
heat will move from one place to another (i.e. from the air into your
icecube)... but the equations are very complex and depend on a lot of
things that you probably wouldn't be able to figure out. For example,
refrigerators with different shapes and sizes will allow air to move
around in them differently. The way that the air moves through the
container affects how quickly it can move heat.
On a more
practical note, I would suggest that you use a marble (or something
else) instead of a jelly-bean because jelly-beans will disolve in
water, which would be sort of gross.
Here's another message we got having to do with your question - apparently you're not alone in your idea!
I've
notice that you have had a few questions in regard to melting an ice
block in 20 C & the formulaes involved.( eg school fundraiser &
the jellybean) Just to fill you in, there is currently a competition
running Australia to guess the exact time for a packet of Tim Tams
(choclate biscuit, highly regarded in Australia) to touch the ground,
where it is initally contained in a 15 tonne block of ice, & then
air temp is kept at 20 C. Well if guess right you get $1 Million. For
details visit
www.timtam.com.au, & you'll see the comp. Cheers Mark.
Mark (age 25)
Brisbane, Australia
Thanks Mark!
-Tamara
(published on 10/22/2007)
