Old Man Winter’s been feisty over the past couple of weeks, serving up dramatic storms and severe cold snaps. At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, the temperature in Newark was 5 degrees, with a wind chill of 16 degrees below zero.
Although folks in Halifax may be accustomed to subzero mornings, it’s relatively rare for the mercury to plunge so low in New Jersey. That morning coffee was likely slush by the time you reached the office.
How a 'polar vortex' works
A commuter’s misery is a science lover’s delight, as the frigid conditions provide an opportunity to conduct super cool weather experiments. A National Public Radio article described three activities that illustrate the transformative power of extreme cold. Boiling water turns to ice crystals and one amateur physicist created an “Instant Slurpee” by leaving a bottle of soda out for four hours in 7-degree weather.
We’ve compiled a list of the freezing temperatures of 10 different liquids, visiting websites including the physics Q&A page on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
We all know that freshwater freezes at 32 degrees but what about milk, jet fuel and beer? Here's a list to stick to your fridge.
• 31 degrees - Whole milk
• 30 degrees - Coca-Cola
• 28 degrees - White vinegar
• 27 degrees - Beer (5% alcohol volume)
• 14 degrees - Canola oil
• 10 degrees - 64-proof liquor
• -5 degrees - Saltwater
• -52 degrees - A-1 jet fuel
• -84 degrees - Antifreeze (70/30 mixture)
• -170 degrees - Ethanol (pure alcohol)