Ice Bomb

The container will rupture violently, projecting metal fragments at high velocity. Always use a robust safety enclosure or blast shield. Ensure all observers wear safety goggles and maintain safe distance. Never attempt to observe the container during the freezing process without proper protection.

The rupture produces a loud explosive sound. Provide hearing protection for all participants if demonstrating the actual rupture event in the classroom.

Purpose

Water sealed in a heavy-walled metal container freezes and expands (~9% by volume), generating enough pressure to rupture the container. Students see dramatic evidence of water's anomalous expansion upon solidification and the enormous forces that phase transitions can produce.

Cast iron ice bomb: a spherical vessel with a threaded cap connected by a curved pipe to a rectangular metal block, shown before freezing

Figure 1:

Danger: Explosion Hazard

Warning: Hearing Protection

Purpose

Safety Warnings

Danger: Explosion Hazard

Warning: Hearing Protection

Purpose