Why does water expand when freezing?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Molecules form crystal lattice
Molecules form crystal lattice ✓ — Correct! Water molecules form a hexagonal crystal structure when freezing, spacing them farther apart than in liquid form. This is why ice floats and pipes can burst in winter—ice is about 9% less dense than water!
Cold makes molecules grow — Wrong. Molecules don't change size. They just arrange differently in solid form.
Freezing adds water vapor — Wrong. No water is added during freezing. The same molecules just take up more space.
More Physics in Daily Life questions
- In a warm office that already reads 26 C, which change can make people feel cooler without lowering the thermostat?
- Why might 26 C feel acceptable in a breezy naturally ventilated summer building but too warm in a sealed winter office?
- On a warm, humid day, why can a 27 °C room feel worse once your skin is sweaty?
- Why can moving air make a 27 C room feel cooler without changing the thermometer?
- Why can a desk beside a cold window feel chilly even when the thermostat across the room still reads 22 C?
- In the same 22 C room, why might someone who just climbed stairs feel warm while someone sitting in a T-shirt feels chilly?