Compressed ice Water

When an ice skater skates, they slide on a thin layer of water. But shouldn’t it become solid since it’s being compressed? What is happening?
- Anonymous
Swanton

Watrer is unusual in that it’s frozen form occupies more volume than the liquid. Squeezing on something always tends to drive it to the smaller-volume state, which in this case is the liquid, not the solid.

Mike W.

(published on 10/22/2007)