Vortex Flow Formation by a Melting Ice Block

Abstract

The phenomenon of spontaneous rotation of melting ice on a solid substrate and on the surface of water has been confirmed by experiments in this work. The rotation velocity was found to increase with the temperature of the reservoir. Using the dying technique, a vortex flow was determined to appear directly under the ice block in experiments placing an ice block on the free surface of a resting liquid. A recorded vortex flow causes ice to rotate. The rotation parameters were measured, and the critical value of the depth of the resting fluid layer, necessary for the start of ice block rotation, was obtained.