Why does freezing water break glass-even when there room for it to expand?
I have noticed that sometimes when water is put into the freezer in a glass bottle or open container, the glass will break as the water freezes–even though there is plenty of room for it to expand. It’s as if the water chooses to expand outward–against the glass walls–instead of into the free space.
PoPCorn
on November 30th, -0001
The water that freezes first will be at the top because of the chemical structure water needs to be in to turn to ice. This structure makes the water less dense when it is about to be frozen so it rises to the top, then freezes there.
So that creates an enclosed container for the water and then Pascal’s law takes over (The expanding water will exert an equal force in all directions)
Orchid
on November 30th, -0001
Water freezes from the top down. A layer of ice at the top can prevent upward expansion (especially if the container is tapered). At that point, it can only expand outward, breaking the glass.
oddperson
on November 30th, -0001
because it expands in more than oone direction
Hippie
on November 30th, -0001
the temperature causes airpressure and that breaks the glass.