Today I learned that the solid/liquid phase equilibrium curve on a phase diagram is slanted backward as seen in the fact that ice floats on water. Nearly everything else slants forward. This also relates to the fact that as pressure is increased (as under a small surface area of a skate blade), the melting temperature decreases, creating a thin layer of water underneath the blade. This water refreezes once the pressure decreases and the melting temp rises back to normal.
For a better picture... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_diagram
-A.J.
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Dude, seriously? Isn't this supposed to be about major life lessons, not thermo? Get with the program A.J.
ReplyDeleteDude, seriously. This is the post that inspired it ALL. And skating is a major life event so one should understand it properly from a physics and chemical engineering viewpoint. Lastly, I can learn anything I want, any day I want, so there. :)
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