Melting ice via Heat
Most recent answer: 10/22/2007
Q:
When ice melts, is it because it gains heat or it loses heat?
- Sentul (age 12)
SJK(C)Chi Man, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Sentul (age 12)
SJK(C)Chi Man, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A:
Heat has to flow into ice to melt it. The liquid has more energy than
the solid, mainly because the molecular bonds in the solid adjust to
low-energy positions. So energy (for example in the form of heat) has
to flow in to convert the solid to the liquid.
There are very few cases (the most famous being the the unusual isotope of helium, HE3) in which heat actually flows out as something melts.
Mike W.
There are very few cases (the most famous being the the unusual isotope of helium, HE3) in which heat actually flows out as something melts.
Mike W.
(published on 10/22/2007)