Icebreakers

Overview

Objectives/Goals My project was to test the strength and durability of ice. I believe that ice can be made stronger and more durable by adding various substances to it. Methods/Materials Three half-gallon cartons were filled with tap water, three with an identical water/flour mixture and three more with an identical water/wood shavings mixture. Once all nine containers were frozen, three strength and durability tests were conducted on each group. The first was a Heat/Melting Test utilizing an electric skillet, the second was a Drop Test (from a height of 5'10") and the third, an Impact Test, involving a 16 lb. sledgehammer being dropped onto each block from a height of 3'4". Results The results of the Heat/Melting Test showed that the wood shavings ice block by far outlasted both the flour ice block and the tap water ice block. The results of the Drop Test showed the flour ice block outlasting both the wood shavings ice block and the tap water ice block. The results of the Impact Test showed the flour ice block and wood shavings ice block similarly outlasting the tap water ice block. Conclusions/Discussion My conclusion is that by adding various substances to ice, it can be made stronger and more durable as the the ice blocks made with flour and with wood shavings out-performed and outlasted the tap water ice block in all three tests.

Competition history

• CSEF 2008 Materials Science (Junior Division Only) · Entry J1201

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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