- By Ridam Sharma
- Thu, 11 Sep 2025 06:17 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Hot vs Cold Water Freezing: Science has always been a topic of fascination for humankind. Over the centuries, many things have been invented and figured out by science. There are some concepts which seem unbelievable to mankind, but science has logic and answers to almost everything. One such concept is that hot water freezes faster than cold water. Anybody would naturally think that cold water will freeze faster than hot water. However, that is not the situation; sometimes, the situation that occurs is completely opposite. In certain situations, hot water freezes faster than cold water, and this strange phenomenon is known as the Mpemba Effect.
What Is The Mpemba Effect?
The Mpemba Effect is a situation where water freezes more quickly when it is hot than when it is cold. The cause behind its occurrence is still not known, and though all experiments may not confirm the exact cause, there are quite a few reasons that support the Mpemba Effect, as per the report by the University of California. Some of the potential main reasons behind the Mpemba Effect include evaporation, since hot water evaporates.
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The other possible reason may be convection currents and dissolved gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide, which influence the freezing behaviour. The other likely cause of the Mpemba Effect could be the supercooling effect and the surroundings, as the effect also relies upon the type of container, freezer temperature, amount of water, and environmental factors.
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In short, the Mpemba Effect is something that still intrigues science enthusiasts and researchers alike, as it questions our intuitive understanding of physics and reminds us that science is also about its exceptions. So, while cold water will generally freeze faster, hot water can also win the battle, under certain circumstances.