3B Scientific Ice Bomb User Manual

3B SCIENTIFIC® PHYSICS

Ice Bomb U8442120

Instruction Sheet

06/08 ALF

1 Cap
2 Ice bomb
3 Spacer rings
4 Cast-iron bolts

1. Description

The ice bomb is used to demonstrate the expansion
in the volume of water when it freezes and the
enormous forces that can be generated.

The ice bomb consists of a steel cylinder with a
plastic cap. Attached to the cylinder there is a shackle
with a pair of holes through which a cast-iron bolt
can be passed.

2. Equipment supplied

1 Basic unit
1 Plastic cap
3 Spacer rings
10 Cast-iron bolts

3. Accessories

Set of 10 cast-iron bolts U8442110

4. Technical data

Dimensions: 40×30×75 mm3 approx.
Max. bolt diameter: 10 mm
Weight: 620 g approx.

5. Operation

5.1 Preparation for the experiment

• Cool some distilled water down to about 4°C.

• First check the fitting of the bolt in the ice bomb,

by closing the cylinder with the plastic cap and
inserting a bolt through the shackle. The bolt

1

should fit tightly. If necessary reduce the
distance between the cap and the bolt by using
spacer rings.

5.2 Experiment procedure

• Fill the cylinder with the cooled water and close

it with the plastic cap.

• Fit the bolt into the holes so that it projects no

more than 1 cm on one side of the shackle. If not
too much is broken off, the bolt can be used
again another time.

• Put the entire assembly in a small plastic bag

and place it in the freezer compartment of a
refrigerator.

After about 15 minutes the bolt will be found to have
snapped.

Elwe Didactic GmbH • Steinfelsstr. 6 • 08248 Klingenthal • Germany • www.elwedidactic.com

3B Scientific GmbH • Rudorffweg 8 • 21031 Hamburg • Germany • www.3bscientific.com

Subject to technical amendments

© Copyright 2008 3B Scientific GmbH