Does an ice cube melts faster in air or water?

7 ANSWERS

1. Faisal Mehmood
   

   Well this depends on a lot factors, such as the temperature of the air or water you use and if the air or water is in a flow or not etc. For instance if there is no flow, then the ice cools off the air or water which is close to it, and this slows down the heat transfer to the ice because it is in contact with only cold air or water. If the air or water flows, then the cold air or water are constantly replenished with warm air or water.
   
   Now incase the air is hot and/or flowing fast and the water is stationary, it is possible that the air may melt your ice first. I will, for the moment, assume "normal" circumstances: an ice cube floating in a large bucket of room-temperature water compared with an ice cube hanging in the air on, say, a string, where the air is still and also at room temperature.
   
   Convection is a main determinant of how fast the ice will melt. Cold air or water will sink, and be replaced by warmer fluid. Water has a much higher heat capacity than air, and so it can deliver more thermal energy at the same flow rate. The air may flow faster, but usually not fast enough to match the difference in heat capacities.
   
   Any how, An ice cube melts faster in water that is the same temperature as the air because of the superior heat transfer ability of the water.

   Report (1) (2)  |   12 years, 9 month(s) ago  

2. Guest2072
   

   it does not help

   Report (2) (3)  |   12 years, 9 month(s) ago  

3. Guest5433
   

   i would say an ice cube would melt faster in air because air takes oxygen and water is the liquid it takes up already so i would say the ice cube will melt in water the fastest.

   Report (2) (3)  |   12 years, 9 month(s) ago  

4. Guest7409
   

   water for sure

   Report (2) (2)  |   12 years, 9 month(s) ago  

5. Guest7886
   

   water

   Report (5) (4)  |   12 years, 9 month(s) ago  

6. Guest7456
   

   It melts faster in water try the experiment.

   
   

    

   Report (0) (0)  |   12 years, 9 month(s) ago  

7. Guest5227
   

   its water try the experiment

   
   

    

   Report (0) (0)  |   12 years, 9 month(s) ago