Fun and Education In Cold Weather

January 27, 2006

With temperatures hovering around -50°F to -30°F (-45°C to -34°C), IARC staff have some educational fun with hot water tossing and bubble blowing.

About frozen bubbles:

Soap bubble skin is made up of two layers of soap molecules surrounding a layer of water molecules. Since temperatures of 10°F and lower are below the freezing point of water, the thin layer of water in the bubble skin freezes quickly before the bubble has a chance to burst.

Bubbles that are made by drawing a wand through cold air freeze almost instantly but bubbles blown by mouth contain warm air. When blown bubbles meet cold air, the warm air inside the bubble contracts as it cools causing the skin to wrinkle. The soap film adds strength to the frozen layer of water within the bubble wall. Because the bubbles freeze quickly, they will be small.

For more information on soap bubbles try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_bubbles

About hot water tossing:

Very hot or boiling water will freeze into tiny ice crystals almost instantly when tossed into frigid air (-30°F/-34°C) forming an icy mist. Boiling water is close to the point of vaporization into gas so it breaks into minute droplets when thrown into the cold air. The tiny droplets lose heat so quickly that they freeze almost instantly.

About ice fog:

Ice fog is a fog of tiny ice crystals formed when air just above the ground becomes so cold it can no longer retain water vapor. Surface heat radiates into space, forming a warm-air cap that contains cold air at low elevations. It is most common when clear skies create an air inversion. Auto exhaust creates vapor which contributes to the condition and traps emissions within the ice fog and adding to poor air quality.

Click on photos for larger view

Ice fog on campus

Dr. Akasofu plays with a frozen bubble at -36°F

Tossing hot water into mist and ice

Frozen bubbles showing wrinkled skin

Photos by Rose Watbe