Was playing Don’t Break the Ice today and I was wondering if someone could explain the science concept behind what holds the ice pieces together. Preferably a little deeper than just “pressure of pieces in a small space.” I looked online but it didn’t help me out very much lol.
Eta this is literally to explain it to a 5 year old
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The little plastic flaps on the inside of the frame act like springs. The ice cubes are slightly too large to perfectly fit inside, so they press on those flaps. Those flaps press back (Newton’s 3rd law, equal and opposite reaction). The compression force causes friction between the ice cubes, preventing them from falling.
You can demonstrate this by taking a block in each hand and supporting more blocks in the middle by pressing them together. By slowly releasing that pressure, eventually they can fall out.
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