Ice water looks like a tree

Water drops create a completely new shape when they freeze. Instead of a round shape, they form a spike and eventually 'grow' onto a small forest of ice crystals on the surface.

To observe this effect, the researchers placed tiny droplets on the surface of a thin plate and placed the disc at -200C. In the next 18 seconds, drops of 4mm diameter turned into solid.

The researchers took pictures of the water droplet's freezing process. At the end of the freezing process, the ice has developed a surface with a spike (see image in the middle row), which will continue to develop and even form delicate ice crystals. on its surface.

The research team reported in the journal Physicss of Fluids. They believe that an unusually pointed tip is created by the vertical expansion of the tape combined with the surface tension of the remaining liquid. When frozen, the sharp shape of a drop of water will draw water vapor from the air and create ice crystals that look like a tree (see photo at the bottom row).