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A closed jar containing ice cubes is placed on a balance. The reading is noted. After an hour, the ice cubes have melted. Which of these statements is correct?
- A The reading is more because ice cubes float
- B The reading is less because the volume of the ice cubes has decreased
- C The reading is less because water is less dense than ice
- D The reading stays the same because mass in neither lost or gained
That's Correct!
It's Wrong!
The reading on the balance stays the same because mass is neither lost nor gained. When the ice cubes melt, they transform from a solid state (ice) to a liquid state (water). However, the total mass of the system remains constant. The water that is formed from the melted ice has the same mass as the ice cubes, so there is no change in the reading on the balance.
