Question

How will you explain following statement with the help of the anomalous behaviour of water?

In cold regions in winter the pipes for water supply break and even rocks crack.

Answer 1

Water shows anomalous behaviour because it expands when cooled below 4°C and on freezing at 0°C. This expansion increases its volume by about 9%.

• In winter, water present inside water supply pipes freezes.
• As it freezes, it expands and exerts great pressure on the walls of the pipes.
• This pressure causes the pipes to burst or break.
• Similarly, water enters the small cracks in rocks.
• When the water freezes, it expands, widening the cracks.
• Repeated freezing and thawing finally cause the rocks to crack or break.

Thus, due to the anomalous expansion of water, water pipes burst, and rocks crack in cold regions during winter.