2007-09-19 22:25:48 · 4 answers · asked by ian w 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Captain Scoresby states, that with a lump of ice of by no means regular cunvexity, used as a burning lens, he has frequently burn •wood, fired gunpowder, mr-lted lead, and lit the sailors
pipes, to their great astonishment ; the ice itself remain
ing, in the mean while, quite firm and pellucid.
http://books.google.com/books?id=T4AAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA374&lpg=PA374&dq=burning+lense+with+ice&source=web&ots=NA5zC2KCH8&sig=pA7-A7zjvd_tLzsn7yxujQQhT94......
2007-09-20 01:04:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If well boiled distilled water is poured into a convex lens shaped cavity and slowly frozen, one can get a 'burning glass'. The curvature has to take into account the lower refractive index of water compared to optical glass.
2007-09-20 06:50:00 · answer #2 · answered by A.V.R. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, if the ice is clear and polished to form a convex lens to focus the light at one spot.
2007-09-20 05:33:58 · answer #3 · answered by Dan S 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ha! You have seen that while watching The Edge, with Anthony Hopkins, isn't it?
Yes, great movie. I enjoyed watching it too.
Yes, you can do that if the ice is carefully and appropriately polished, which task is difficult to reach that result.
2007-09-20 05:40:37 · answer #4 · answered by Space Bluesman 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋