Frozen Puddles

Walking along the fire road through the woods I begin to take notice of the frozen puddles and the patterns formed by the frozen ice. I was curious how those contour looking lines were formed. When I returned home I did some research and found that water freezes at 32 degrees. When the water gets colder the molecules slow down and stick to each other and form ice crystals. They also begin to move apart causing the ice to expand as much as 9%. I was also reminded that ice “feels cold” because it has lost energy as heat and that ice floats. The floating part is especially good news to fish and frogs in the water that might otherwise be crushed.

These are all things I learned in grade school but it is good to be reminded of the wonders of the universe every now and then. But I still didn’t find out how those circles came about. I have my own theories but not the facts.

I resolved that it is OK. I don’t need to know everything about ice to take pleasure in these sculpted frozen puddles. Besides it’s just plain fun to stomp on them and hear that “crack” as the ice breaks under your feet, to be a kid again. You might say I was cracking my way down the road. So go ahead, stomp on those frozen puddles, no one will notice that you are doing it deliberately... unless they see your smile.

See more at Watery Wednesday.