Saving a snowman

Will putting a coat on a snowman make it melt faster? Would it matter what temperature it was outside? Let’s do an experiment to find out.

If there is snow on the ground, you can make two little snowmen for the experiment. If there is no snow, fill two empty plastic milk jugs with water and freeze in the freezer or outside overnight during really cold weather. Those blocks of ice will act as your “snowmen.”

Procedure

1. Place your two small snowmen or blocks of ice on a table. Try not to use the ground if possible because it might be warm.

2. Measure the height and the thickest part of your ice blocks or snowmen.

3. Wrap one of the snowmen or ice blocks with an old coat or a blanket. Leave the other uncovered.

4. After a time, observe and take measurements. Do the snowmen or ice blocks look different? Check back as often as you can.

Results and Explanation

What results did you get? A coat keeps you warm, but does it warm your ice? The answer should be “no.” Coats keep you warm because they provide insulation. A coat or blanket does not produce warmth — it keeps in the warmth your body generates. When you place the coat around a block of ice, the same insulating power will keep the ice cool. So on a warm day, your snowman or ice block in a blanket would likely stay frozen longer than a snowman or ice block without any insulation.