2007-02-01 02:02:24 · 3 answers · asked by Stephen K 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Hi:
The reason is that air is dissolved in the water. All icicles form when water start dripping from something and the air is cold enough to freeze the water droplets into ice, However the water droplets has air dissolved in it and since ice freezes from the outside surface to the inside core of the droplet the air is trapped. the water droplet's surface tension forces the air in it to assume a bubble shape at the center of the droplet ; as the water droplet continues to freeze until it is solid this all happen at nightfall. However as the sun comes out the next day. It start heating the outside of the icicle while the inside remain ice( due some physical heat laws and chemical properties of water) making water again and get more water from it surrounding, the water get some air in itself again and start to drip again as the cold night come again, or the temperature drop to freezing. The water refreeze again. Repeating the process until a larger icicle is formed again with small bubbles in it. This process will continue until spring , when the icicle reaches the ground or some one like you breaks the icicle. which the icicle will try to reform itself again.
I hope this explain it.
There a Scientific American Magazine article that explain it. you will have to find it
2007-02-01 02:59:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its the Air Pockets inside of them.
2007-02-01 10:05:17 · answer #2 · answered by Ex Head 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont know but dont u think its cool?
2007-02-01 10:06:10 · answer #3 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋