Melting Icebergs Experiment

Based off of what I have heard in the news and on TV and then reviewing my results from the Melting Icebergs Experiment, there are two different answers to the question what would happen if the polar ice caps melted. Putting ice cubes in a glass, filling the glass up with water, and allowing the ice to melt is an example of what it would be like if the icebergs melted that are floating in the water. Since water expands when it is frozen, the icebergs have already displaced the water throughout the ocean. If all the icebergs were to melt, the same amount of water would still be present throughout the ocean. If you did the same lab with a different twist by filling the glass with water and then putting the ice cubes into the glass, the amount of water that would overflow would weigh the same as the ice cubes. If the ice cubes were then left in the glass to melt, the water would not overflow again because the weight of water that originally overflowed from the glass would be refilled by the same amount of water from the ice cubes. The other answer to this question would be if the glaciers on land were to melt, then yes the water level would rise. This is because the glaciers on land have not displaced any water that is currently in the ocean. As these glaciers begin to melt, it is adding more water to the rivers, lakes, and oceans thus causing the water levels to rise.

Before completing this experiment I had ideas that came from what was said on TV about global warming and all the icebergs melting would cause the water level in the oceans to rise. After completing this experiment I now realize how that is not possible. This experiment also brings to mind that if the icebergs and glaciers melted it would not happen instantaneously putting everyone’s lives at risk. From completing the experiment it took nearly 25 minutes for my group of 4 ice cubes to melt. If you looked at the scale of my ice cubes to an iceberg, it would happen slow enough that people would have time to adjust and move. After completing this experiment with my class, I would do a second experiment that would show what would happen if the glaciers found on land melted. I feel it is important for students to understand the difference between the two kinds of ice melting and what kind of effect it would have on our oceans. It also gives students the needed information to know what stories about global warming are worth looking into.