Why is some lake ice black and some white?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why is some lake ice black and some white?

The Big Idea

Some lake ice looks black, and some looks white! Same lake, different ice. Why?

Black Ice

Step one: Black Ice. Ice that forms slowly in calm, cold weather is clear and hard. You can see through it to the dark water below, which makes it look black.

White Ice

Step two: White Ice. White ice forms when snow gets wet and refreezes. It's packed with tiny air bubbles that scatter light.

Strength

Step three: Strength. White ice is usually weaker than clear ice. Blue ice is very dense and has few bubbles, but color alone can't tell you the thickness.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Clear and hard. Weaker. Very dense. Scatter light.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Ice thickness cannot be told by color alone. Clear ice looks black. White ice is weaker. Blue ice is dense.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Freeze a cup of clear water. Freeze a cup of slush. Take them out when frozen. Compare how they look. Which one is clearer?

Outro

Ice formed slowly in calm weather is clear and hard, so it looks black over dark water. White ice forms when wet snow refreezes with air bubbles that scatter light, and it's usually weaker, so color alone can't tell you the thickness. Science is amazing! What will you discover next? Every question is a new adventure, so keep wondering and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!