Melting Rates
Most recent answer: 02/23/2011
Q:
How do you calculate the rate of melting.
- Ibnul (age 12)
Toronto, Canada
- Ibnul (age 12)
Toronto, Canada
A:
We're not sure if you are looking at something melting and trying to figure out how to calculate the rate from what you observe, or trying to predict that rate from some theory.
If you're working with observations, you might just weigh the frozen stuff first (ice?) and time how long it takes to melt. The rate is the amount per time.
If you're trying to make a prediction, the key point is to keep track of the heat flow. For ice, it takes about 80 calories (333 Joules) per gram to melt. Calculating the heat flow can be tricky, and we have no way to start without knowing much more about the circumstances.
Mike W.
If you're working with observations, you might just weigh the frozen stuff first (ice?) and time how long it takes to melt. The rate is the amount per time.
If you're trying to make a prediction, the key point is to keep track of the heat flow. For ice, it takes about 80 calories (333 Joules) per gram to melt. Calculating the heat flow can be tricky, and we have no way to start without knowing much more about the circumstances.
Mike W.
(published on 02/23/2011)