Question 1

What is ice?

Accepted Answer

Ice is just frozen water. When water gets really cold, it turns solid and becomes ice.

Question 2

Why is ice slippery?

Accepted Answer

Ice is slippery because a thin layer of water forms on top when you step on it. This water layer makes it easy to slide.

Question 3

Why does ice float on water?

Accepted Answer

Ice floats on water because it is lighter than water. When water freezes, it expands and takes up more space, making it less dense.

Question 4

Why is ice cold?

Accepted Answer

Ice feels cold because it's at a low temperature. It takes heat away from your hand when you touch it, so your hand feels cold.

Question 5

Why is ice clear or white?

Accepted Answer

Ice can be clear if it has very few bubbles. It looks white when there are lots of tiny air bubbles trapped inside.

Question 6

What happens to ice when it melts?

Accepted Answer

When ice melts, it turns back into water. This happens because it warms up and changes from a solid to a liquid.

Question 7

Can ice be different colors?

Accepted Answer

Yes, ice can sometimes look blue or green. This happens when light passes through the ice and gets scattered.

Question 8

How does ice form in nature?

Accepted Answer

Ice forms when the air temperature is cold enough to freeze water. It can happen in lakes, on roads, or from rain turning into ice.

Question 9

Why do we put salt on ice?

Accepted Answer

Salt is put on ice to make it melt faster. Salt lowers the freezing point of water, so even if it's very cold, the ice will still melt.

Question 10

What are glaciers?

Accepted Answer

Glaciers are huge and slow-moving rivers of ice. They form where snow collects and freezes over many years.

Question 11

What is frost?

Accepted Answer

Frost is like ice that forms on surfaces when it's cold. It appears when water vapor in the air turns into ice without becoming water first.

Question 12

How is snow different from ice?

Accepted Answer

Snow is made of tiny ice crystals that fall from the sky. While both are frozen water, ice is solid and often forms as sheets or cubes.

Question 13

What is an iceberg?

Accepted Answer

An iceberg is a large piece of ice that breaks off from glaciers or ice shelves and floats in the ocean. Most of an iceberg is underwater, as only the top part sticks out.

Question 14

Can ice be found on other planets?

Accepted Answer

Yes, ice can be found on other planets like Mars and even on some moons. It shows that water once existed or still exists there today.

Question 15

Why do we use ice in drinks?

Accepted Answer

We use ice in drinks to keep them cold. Ice absorbs heat from the drink, making it cooler and more refreshing.

Question 16

What is ice skating?

Accepted Answer

Ice skating is a fun activity where people glide across ice using special shoes with blades called skates. It’s done on frozen lakes or ice rinks.

Question 17

Why is ice important for the Earth?

Accepted Answer

Ice helps keep our planet cool by reflecting sunlight. Polar ice caps, in particular, play a big role in regulating the Earth's temperature.

Question 18

What is hail?

Accepted Answer

Hail is frozen chunks of ice that fall from the sky during some storms. They form when rain droplets are lifted up into cold areas of clouds, freeze, then fall to the ground.

Question 19

Why does ice crack when it freezes?

Accepted Answer

Ice can crack because water expands when it freezes. If the ice can't expand easily, it breaks or cracks instead.

Question 20

How do animals live on ice?

Accepted Answer

Some animals, like polar bears and penguins, have special adaptations to live on ice. They have thick fur or blubber to keep warm and are great at navigating icy environments.

The Science of Ice: Properties and Phenomena - 20 FAQs Explained Simply