What happens if ice doesnt float

The molecule is held together by covalent bonds, which is when two atoms share a pair of electrons. However, the oxygen atom pulls on these negatively-charged electrons much more strongly than the hydrogen atoms can. As a result, the electrons tend to hover closer to the oxygen atom than either of the hydrogen atoms. This leaves the molecule as a whole with a slight negative charge around the oxygen end, and a slight positive charge around the hydrogen end.

Since opposites attract, the slight charges on different molecules interact with each other. In liquid form, as the molecules move around, hydrogen bonds form and break over and over, and the molecules can slip past each other.

However, as the water cools down, it starts to form into its crystal lattice structure. While the molecules want to form hydrogen bonds between the slight positive and negative charges, the same-charges repel each other, stopping the molecules from getting too close. The result is a structure that is slightly less dense than liquid water. If you cool it further, it begins to expand again, and once it has completely solidified into ice, it has increased in volume by about 9 per cent.

The bulk modulus of ice is around 8. Exploring our world: Ice protecting life. Other articles in this series Exploring our world: Why does ice float? Exploring our world: The energy of molecules. Did you find this article useful? Please tell us why Submit. Ready to grow with 4-H? Sign up today! Join 4-H. Fairs and 4-H: the tradition continues in Ice floats because we exist. If the molecule was a different shape then we would not exist; our body is made from proteins, they would not work with a differently structured water molecule.

Ray Gallagher, Belfast UK Ice floats because, unlike other substances, water starts to expand as the temperature falls below 4 centigrade and continues to do so below freezing point. As it is the ice stays on the surface and creates a solid layer betweeen the water and the freezing air preventing any further ice forming except in the most extreme conditions. In this way the fish can survive the winter in the insulated water below the ice.

The weak anthropic principle suggests that the universe is the way it is because if it wasn't, we wouldn't have evolved and so wouldn't be here to observe it. The strong anthropic principle states that we are the reason for the universe and that's why it is the way it is. If it didn't, oceans, lakes and other bodies of water would, when the weather is cold enough, freeze from the bottom up as any ice forming would sink to the bottom.

The inevitable result would be no sea life of any complexity as it could not survive oceans that freeze solid and take months if at all to melt, and hence no evolution of any more complex life - like people.

Clive Gordon, Ruislip UK Anthropic reasoning starts with the premise that many different universes exist or have existed , and that the reason why this universe is uniquely suited to our existence is that we can't exist in the other universes, and so see a restricted sample of all possible universes.

Museum at Home. Holiday Events. Join Our Team. Traveling Exhibits. Community Programs. Power of Children Awards. Visiting Artist Application. Corporate Donations. Planned Gifts. Renew your Donor Membership. Current Members. Renew Your Membership. Member FAQ. The Children's Museum Today's Hours: 10 am—5 pm.

Buy Tickets. Things to Do. Museum Blog. Sinking vs.