University of Wisconsin Stout | Wisconsin's Polytechnic University

Freezing Water Race

In cold regions like Canada, people will tell you that if you leave equal size open containers of hot water and cold water outside, the hot water will freeze before the cold water container. Is this true? Why or why not?

• A. No it is not true. The hot water has more heat to lose so it can not freeze faster under same conditions.
• B. Actually the two containers freeze at the same time, the hotter initally loses heat faster because of the greater temperature difference with the atmosphere and thus catches up to the cold water and freezes at the same time.
• C. Yes the hot water can freeze before the cold water due to evaporation effects.
• D. I don't like cold weather and think this is a dumb question.

Answer