THE ANOMALOUS EXPANSIVITY OF WATER

Let's talk about this today pals.

Generally, its accepted in physics that on HEATING an object, the inter-molecular forces will start weakening due to increased vibration of the molecules; as a result, the object will start expanding - INCREASE IN VOLUME or REDUCTION IN DENSITY.
On the other way, COOLING an object makes the degree of vibration of the molecules reduce, hence, they start coming to rest; thereby, they Contract - REDUCTION IN VOLUME and INCREASE IN DENSITY.

This principle is applied in mechanical constructions to fit parts together. A part can be cooled to become smaller, so as to fit into another or they be heated to expand and get loosened - thanks to physics.

But something amazes us when it comes to WATER, it actually obeys this law when been cooled till it gets to 4 Degrees Celsius; then it gets anomalous - instead of contracting, its starts expanding, oh my gosh!

Also, on heating an Ice (from say -10 degrees Celsius), it will start contracting till 4 degrees Celsius, then it 'regains its senses' and begins to expand like every other object.

WHY THIS BEHAVIOR?
Water behaves like this due to the presence of dominating Hydrogen bonds in it that tends to become stronger from 4 degrees Celsius downward.
(Read more on this through this link)

NOW WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS?
This implies that, unlike other substances, the density of water in its SOLID STATE is lower than its LIQUID STATE density. In other words, the solid of water floats in its liquid, brilliant!

An Iceberg  is a frozen water but floats
(Source: www.123rf.com, 2013)

This is why we have,
1. Floating Icebergs.
2. Broken coke bottles due to over freezing, lol.
3. More sea animals alive; yeah because,
a) If Icebergs sink, they will kill a lot of sea creatures you like.
b) also, some unfrozen water get to be trapped beneath the frozen ice layer and will usually remain unfrozen since ice is a poor conductor of heat.
4. Frozen oceans we can actually Ski on, for those that lives towards to the North Pole.

Water is Special... Its not just a source of life, but a wonder!

Is Physics not Fun?
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