Science is Magic

67

Water molecules

join the ice crystal. Ice crystal

structure

As the supercooled water touches

the ice, it freezes. Keep pouring the

water onto the ice cube—it will

grow into a lumpy, twisted tower.

3

SCIENCE

PART...

THE In tap water, ice crystals form

around tiny dust particles.

That’s why the tap water froze

and the spring water—with no

particles in it—stayed a liquid.

Water also freezes on contact

with ice, which explains why the

supercooled spring water turns

into ice instantly on the cube.

When the water hits the ice,

free-floating water molecules

snap into position on an ice

crystal and the tower grows.

Water freezes at zero... but only

if it has somewhere to get started!

US_066-067_Magic_ice_tower.indd 67 12/09/2018 15:50