Journal Entry

Hot Water Snow

Why Do You Think This Happens?

And here it is. The long awaited video on hot water freezing into snow. Why do you think this happens with hot water and not cold? Again, you can put your ideas in the comments section. Extra credit for my students!

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Reindeer Farm

What else? We saw musk oxen at the local reindeer farm. Yes, there were reindeer (no, not Rudolph) but they were a little far from us for good viewing so I have the musk ox to share instead.

Musk OxMusk Oxen live in herds in northern Canada, Greenland and the United States. Photo by Zeb Polly

Hey Baby!

The name musk ox is due to the pungent, musky odor that the male secretes to attract a female. I didn't have the pleasure of smelling it, but I'm sure it doesn't smell like Armani. But look at this guy! Looks kinda prehistoric, huh? And yet these guys happily survive in herds of 8 to 24 in northern Canada, Greenland and the United States consuming grasses, woody plants, lichens and mosses. What else can you find out about musk oxen?

Reindeer Sausage, mmm mmm

As far as the reindeer "farm" (reindeer are also known as caribou), yes it is true. People do eat reindeer and it tastes really good! This particular farm is used primarily for research into the science of reindeer farming, but the research does support a large reindeer meat industry in Alaska. Wipe off those tears. No crying now about Rudolph (or Blixen or Bambi or any of those other cute and cuddly fictionalized deer).

AMAZING people!

So here is our first group picture. Let me tell you, these are some awesome people and super inspiring teachers. I am learning so much from them. It is an amazing group.

PolarTREC teachers 2014Our happy group. PolarTREC 2014. Photo by Zeb Polly

Comments

Mon, 04/28/2014 - 04:26

Peggy McNeal

Makenna and Tylar,Because the water did not just freeze to become the snow! The snow that you see comes from water that first evaporated and then condensed, just like what happens in the real water cycle. The hot water has more energy (remember temperature is a measure of the kinetic energy of the particles) and is closer to evaporation.  The very cold air has a low vapor pressure and is very dry making for a quick transition of the hot water to the gas state.  But it almost immediately condenses and freezes because of the cold air temperature producing the particles that look like snow.  The cold water just flies up in the air and comes back down as cold water.  Of course it will freeze to ice because of the cold air- but ice is not the same as snow.

Mon, 04/28/2014 - 04:26

Peggy McNeal

Samantha and Jared,Excellent question, now you two are thinking!
This sounds like a "next investigation' because I do not know the answer- I would have to try it and investigate more. My guess is that it would not make a difference to color or brightness, but we could set up an experiment where we test water of increasing temperatures to see what the difference is. The problem is that I would have to wait until I am in a very cold environment again. And even though Svalbard will be cold in summer, I don't think it will be cold enough for this (negative temperatures).
Anyway, I'm really proud of you guys for coming up with a good "next investigation" question like we do in our lab conclusions.

Mon, 04/28/2014 - 04:41

Peggy McNeal

Gonzalo and Victoria,Most of the research is "meat science" and looks at the many factors that affect meat quality from farmer to consumer. One example of something they have found out is how through breeding and genetics they can influence how much meat (muscle) there will be on the carcass. Yum!

Mon, 04/28/2014 - 08:41

Peggy McNeal

Madison and Trevor,Something like that. The snow that you see comes from water that first evaporated and then condensed, just like what happens in the real water cycle. The hot water has more energy (remember temperature is a measure of the kinetic energy of the particles) and is closer to evaporation. The very cold air has a low vapor pressure and is very dry making for a quick transition of the hot water to the gas state. But it almost immediately condenses and freezes because of the cold air temperature producing the particles that look like snow. The cold water just flies up in the air and comes back down as cold water. Of course it will freeze to ice because of the cold air- but ice is not the same as snow.
But I think you meant "temperature change" instead of climate change. Climate change describes changes to climate over very long periods like years, decades, centuries and longer.

Mon, 04/28/2014 - 08:41

Peggy McNeal

Grant and Cynthia,Great question! Look at my response to Mackenna and Tylar from period 7 who asked the same question as you!

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 09:59

John Wood

Peggy,it's great to have you here sharing this experience. Your journals are looking very nice and complete. I'm sure you can't wait to get into the field. Have lots of fun!
John

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 11:47

Guest

this Madison Whitney and Trevor Blakely from period 4. does the hot water turn to snow because of the sudden temp change? and the cold water doesn't because of the similar temp.?

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 11:53

Guest

This is Shelby Morence and Riley Beaver from period 4.can the musk oxen survive without a herd?

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 11:59

Guest

What would happen if there was an instant change in the temperature outside or the water? Kevin Ledesma &

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:28

Guest

Where does the Ox secrete its odors out of? -Brent from 7th period

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:28

Guest

Does hot water change because the temp. changes so sudden? And cold does't because it's so close and similar to freezing? -Jake Grubbs 7th period. and Alexa Henderson

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 12:02

Guest

why does the hot water freeze but not the cold water? - Andy A.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 11:20

Armando Caussade

That is interesting, Peggy. Have you done the experiment under different temperatures (-20 F, -10 F, 0 F, etc.) to make a comparison. That would be interesting indeed, to like establish a threshold for the water to actually freeze.

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 12:07

Guest

Why do the legs of the musk ox have no fur on it but the rest of the body is covered with tons of fur?Its Grant and Cynthia from period 4

Sat, 03/08/2014 - 15:29

Guest

Why do Musk Oxen live in herds?
and I am wondering what else do they eat besides woody plants and grass?

Fri, 02/14/2014 - 04:24

Peggy McNeal

That would be really interesting, Armando. I don't know what the temperature threshold is, but that would make an interesting experiment.
The temperature in Fairbanks hasn't been above -15º F so I have not
had the opportunity to try anything above that. But we did some fun
things with frozen bubbles yesterday. You can check that out on an
upcoming post!
On 2/13/14 11:20 AM, webmaster@polartrec.com wrote:
> (

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 14:18

Guest

Trae Animal and Hannah bosier per.7,
Why does hot water freeze, and cold water doesn't. The cold water temp is closer to freezing temp than hot water.

Fri, 02/14/2014 - 07:34

Guest

Does the hot water freeze because its a sudden temp change?

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 17:28

Peggy McNeal

Trae and Hannah, True the cold water is closer to freezing but what actually happens is the water has to evaporate first and then condense into snow. Frozen water doesn't make snow, it makes ice. The hot water is closer to evaporation so it allows that process to happen. Good question; you are thinking.

Wed, 03/12/2014 - 04:04

Peggy McNeal

The herds are social groups and serve some of the same purposes as large family units, such as defining who is in charge and who gets to mate with who. The biggest reason, however is for protection. When the herd is threatened, it forms a ring with all the oxen facing outward against the predator. This is safer than one ox trying to defend itself alone.
Musk oxen are herbivores- plant eaters. So they don't eat much other than the plants they find around them which is basically grass, lichens and moss out on the tundra. I know it doesn't seem like much but they are like cows- eating grass all day and that is enough for them!

Fri, 02/14/2014 - 12:24

Peggy McNeal

Regarding question, "Does the hot water freeze because its a sudden temp change?", that's part of it. But there are two separate changes of
state involved and a bigger question is "Why doesn't the cold water do
this too?" Thanks for the question and keep thinking!
On 2/14/14 7:34 AM, webmaster@polartrec.com wrote:
>

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 14:57

Peggy McNeal

Grant and Cynthia,There is fur on their legs, it is just a different color. Their extraordinary fur coat covers their whole body even the udder.

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 14:57

Peggy McNeal

Andy,The hot water has more energy (remember temperature is a measure of the kinetic energy of the particles) and is closer to evaporation. The very cold air has a low vapor pressure and is very dry making for a quick transition of the hot water to the gas state. But it almost immediately condenses and freezes because of the cold air temperature producing the particles that look like snow. The cold water just flies up in the air and comes back down as cold water. Of course it will freeze to ice too because of the cold air.

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 15:27

Peggy McNeal

Shelby and Riley,It's rare, but individual musk oxen have been spotted in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thu, 04/24/2014 - 08:26

Peggy McNeal

Interesting question!  The secretions come from preorbital glands.  They have these slits of dark blue to black bare skin that extend down from the inner corner of their eyes.  These produce the secretions.  How weird is that?

Thu, 04/24/2014 - 08:26

Peggy McNeal

Yes and no.  The hot water has more energy (remember temperature is a measure of the kinetic energy of the particles) and is closer to evaporation.  The very cold air has a low vapor pressure and is very dry making for a quick transition of the hot water to the gas state.  But it almost immediately condenses and freezes because of the cold air temperature producing the particles that look like snow.  The cold water just flies up in the air and comes back down as cold water.  Of course it will freeze to ice too because of the cold air.

Sun, 02/16/2014 - 11:51

Guest

because the hot is evaporating and it is lighter than the regular cold water and the cold water just falls!

Sun, 02/16/2014 - 11:59

Guest

that last one was mine athena

Sun, 02/16/2014 - 19:15

Guest

I think that the hot water turned into snow because of the increase/decrease of temp. And the cold water didn't because in cold water it didn't need energy. That or endothermic reaction. This is Cameron Taylor from your 4 period class

Fri, 04/25/2014 - 12:05

Guest

Its Grant and Cynthia from period 4, why does the hot water turn into snow and the cold water doesn't?

Fri, 04/25/2014 - 12:08

Guest

this is Madison Whitney and Trevor Blakely from period 4. was the only reason the hot water froze and turned into snow, because of the sudden climate change with the weather? and the cold water didnt because the temp was similar to when it was thrown.

Fri, 04/25/2014 - 12:08

Guest

this is Madison Whitney and Trevor Blakely from period 4. was the only reason the hot water froze and turned into snow, because of the sudden climate change with the weather? and the cold water didnt because the temp was similar to when it was thrown.

Fri, 04/25/2014 - 12:08

Guest

this is Madison Whitney and Trevor Blakely from period 4. was the only reason the hot water froze and turned into snow, because of the sudden climate change with the weather? and the cold water didnt because the temp was similar to when it was thrown.

Mon, 02/17/2014 - 20:49

Peggy McNeal

Lots of good thoughts here.OK- yes the hot water evaporated (but that isn't going to make snow- remember you can't see water as a vapor).
The cold water DOES just fall. It doesn't turn into snow either, it falls as a liquid.
No reactions here; remember we are talking about changes of state- physical changes.
So I guess two questions remain:
1. What has to happen in order to make the snow (what change of state)
2. Why does the hot water do this and the cold water does not?

I'm impressed with your thinking. Keep at it!

Fri, 04/25/2014 - 14:25

Guest

this is Gonzalo and Victoria from 7th period what are they researching about the reingdeer meat and what have they found out?

Fri, 04/25/2014 - 14:25

Guest

this is Gonzalo and Victoria from 7th period what are they researching about the reingdeer meat and what have they found out?

Fri, 04/25/2014 - 14:26

Guest

If the water was hotter than when you threw it would it change anything? Would the color be brighter or anything else like that? - Samantha Vasquez & Jared A. Period 7

Fri, 04/25/2014 - 14:26

Guest

This is Makenna Taylor and Tylar Poulson. How come the hot water turned into snow when you through it and the cold water stayed water.It seems like it should be the other way around, why is that?

Fri, 04/25/2014 - 14:26

Guest

If the water was hotter than when you threw it would it change anything? Would the color be brighter or anything else like that? - Samantha Vasquez & Jared A. Period 7

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 08:14

Janet Warburton

This is a great journal and fun to see the video and group photo! You are doing great and welcome to Fairbanks!
Janet