Topics Concepts Citizen science Teacher PLD Glossary

Floating ice

Water density changes with temperature and salinity. When water freezes at 0°C, a rigid open lattice (like a web) of hydrogen-bonded molecules is formed. It is this open structure that makes ice less dense than liquid water. This is why icebergs float.

Rights: Dr Megan Balks

Published: 30 June 2010Size: 165.54 KB

Explore related content

Appears in Related resources

Teacher PLD

Physical World – Floating and sinking

Below are links to Science Learning Hub resources for primary teachers related to floating and sinking in the Physical World strand of the New Zealand Curriculum....

Article

Water density

Water density changes with temperature and salinity. Density is measured as mass (g) per unit of volume (cm³). Water is densest at 3.98°C and is least...

Article

Ocean salinity

There are many chemicals in seawater that make it salty. Most of them get there from rivers carrying chemicals dissolved out of rock and soil. The...

Activity

Labelling the eye

The human eye contains structures that allow it to perceive light, movement and colour differences.

Teacher PLD

Investigating in science

Both science and mātauranga pūtaiao build knowledge and understanding about our world. Often, we start with curiosity about something we’ve noticed and we want to find...

Teacher PLD

Seaweek resources

Seaweek is New Zealand’s annual national week about the sea. It is coordinated by the Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre (MERC) and includes...

Email us

Your Email address

See our newsletters here.

News and events About Contact Us Privacy Copyright Help

Curious Minds is a Government initiative jointly led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.