Question

Figure shows a glass of ice water filled to the brim. Will the water overflow when the ice melts? Explain your answer.

Short answer

Density of ice is less than that of water so melted ice will occupy less space than ice.

Step-by-step solution

Description of the scenario

In this scenario, ice is floating in the water. When ice melts, a transformation from a solid to a liquid phase occurs. But the water won’t flow out of the brim. Water molecules remain inside the glass.

Explanation

Density is the ratio of mass to volume. Since the density of ice is lower than that of water, ice occupies more space and the volume will be greater. While floating, ice displaces an amount of water equal to its volume to remain in equilibrium. Otherwise, the ice would have been sunk.

When ice melts into water, its volume will be the same as that of the displaced water. So, there won’t be any change in the water level during this phasetransformation.

So, there will be no overflow of water when the ice melts.