[ELI5] how does ice melt faster/more stirred than just sitting?

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For instance, I make myself some hot coffee and I want to turn it to iced coffee. Stirring it seems to cool it down much faster than letting the ice just sit in the coffee, however, from what I have read, stirring the ice melts the ice faster and more even though it cools it down faster. Why? Is this even correct?

Also, would the ice just sitting in the hot coffee melt roughly the same amount as the stirred once the coffees reaches the desired cold temperatures? Idk we can make one up, coffee from 160°f to 40°f, I guess. I also generally fill my coffee cup completely with ice as I’m sure the amount of ice changes this.

I hope this makes sense and I tagged the question correctly. Thank you,

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13 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Ice in cold water melts more slowly than ice in hot water. When you leave ice in hot coffee the outside melts and creates a cushion of ice cold water around the ice cubes protecting it from melting. Stirring pushes the ice outside of the cushion into the hot coffee so it keeps melting and more ice cold water is mixing with the hot coffee.

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