Lift a Wooden Board with a Glass of Ice

 Overview 

Have you ever done the Lifting Ice Experiment? We are going to use the same principle to demonstrate another amazing experiment for kids, Lift a Wooden Board with a Glass of Ice. I hope you enjoy it as well as your kids.

Age: 3+           Time: <30min

 Safety 

1. Beware of frostbite.
2. Adult supervision.

 Materials List 

• Beaker (any container with a thin bottom)
• Ice cube
• Wood board
• Water
• Salt

 Instruction 

Step 1/3 – Pour some water on the center of the board.

Step 2/3 – Place a beaker on the wet board, add ice cube into the beaker, and spread about a teaspoon of salt on to the ice cube.

Step 3/3 – Wait for about ten minutes, lift the cup and you will find that the board is firmly sticking to the beaker.

 Question to ask 

How long the connection can remain? What factors influence the connecting time?

 Troubleshooting 

Why can't I lift the board?
— Make sure you wait for enough time, pour enough water on the wooden board before you place the beaker on it, and add enough ice and salt. Use the container with a thin bottom.

 Scientific Description 

The salt causes the freezing point of the water to decrease so it accelerates the ice melting process. The melting of the ice needs to absorb heat from the surrounding environment, so the temperature about is cool enough to freeze the water between the beaker and board, for, not mixing up with salt, its freezing point is not changed. The ice connects the wooden board to the beaker.

 Extensions 

1. Instead of salt, can we use other things? Is it ok, using sugar?
2. The experiment Ice Cube Rope, shares the same principle.