How to Freeze Water in a Styrofoam Cup

It takes more time to freeze water in a Styrofoam cup than it does to freeze the same amount of water in plastic or glass containers. According to information from the University of Illinois' website, water releases 80 calories of heat energy per gram as it freezes. It must give off this energy quickly to freeze quickly. Styrofoam, however has insulating properties that will trap the heat and release it slowly, ultimately slowing the freezing process down. Does this Spark an idea?

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Instructions

- 1
  
  Pour water into the cup, to the level appropriate for the amount of ice you want.
- 2
  
  Place the cup in a freezer. Place it on a level surface so that the cup is balanced.
- 3
  
  Wait for ice to form. It will take some time for ice to form due to the nature of Styrofoam. The amount of time will also depend on the amount of water in the cup.

The University of Illinois: Freezing and Melting Speeds

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