Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Why Ice Floats

Why does ice float? Seems like a simple question. On this StarTalk explainer video, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice are, as usual, bringing complex answers to life’s simple questions.

Neil explains why peculiar things happen to water when it changes state. We explore what happens when water freezes. Chuck gives a visual demonstration of why you usually see 10% of ice above water. You’ll learn why the arctic ice sheets float on the water. And, why the ice we need to worry about is the ice on land and the “runoff.”

We discuss the power of freezing ice (which leads to bursting pipes). Find out more about the density of water. What if bodies of water froze from the bottom up? Neil tells us how a certain property of water protects aquatic life over the winter. All that, plus, Chuck can’t help but bring up the science behind spherical ice cubes used for scotch!

About the prints that flank Neil in this video:

"Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/.

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About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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0:00 - Introduction
1:48 - What Happens When Water Freezes?
3:34 - When Ice Melts
5:36 - Why Pipes Break Below Freezing
7:23 - Densities of Water
8:15 - Why Fish Don’t Freeze In The Winter
10:34 - Pressure-Melting
14:06 - Closing Notes