When water freezes it expands. As a result, the application of pressure lead to

Question

When water freezes it expands. As a result, the application of pressure lead to a change in the melting temperature of ice. Bobo Rebozo, famed animal trainer, is contemplating training Ethiopian elephants to ice skate as part of the new Ice Capades show. He is concerned that the elephants will melt their way through the ice if it is not cold enough. Assume that the ice is maintained at a temperature of -5 degree C, and the elephant's skates have a contact area of 3 cm^2. Estimate how much the elephant would have to weigh before pressure induced melting would occur. Useful data: delta Hm = 6008 Joules/mole (at 273K), Psol = 0.9168 g/cm^3.

Explanation / Answer

Pressure Increase = 8.45%
Bulk Modulus = 2.00 X 109 N/m2
Initial Volume of Water = V

After Freezing
V'= V + 8.45/100V
For a total of 108.45/100V

Then
P= -B x V/V
    = (2.00 x 109 N/m2) x8.45/100V x 1/V
    = 169000000 Pa

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