Skating rinks maintain their frozen surfaces even in warm air because the temperature beneath the ice is so cold that the ice is not affected significantly by moderate temperatures above it.
Thus a burst of sunshine over an outdoor rink, which allows skaters to shed their sweaters, cannot succeed in melting the ice.
In a figure skating rink the ice is generally about 2 inches thick; permanent ice hockey rinks use slightly thicker ice. It lies on a concrete floor through which runs a maze of 3/4 to 1 inch diameter pipes.
The pipes are placed crosswise rather than lengthwise and lie no more than 2 inches apart; an Olympic size rink of 185 feet by 85 feet has 7 to 11 miles of pipes embedded in its concrete floor. A very cold brine solution, or a glycol solution similar to the antifreeze used in cars, is continuously pumped through the pipes.
The solution draws off heat from the floor, as chillers run by compressors cool the solution to –5 to –15 degrees Fahrenheit each time it circulates. The warmer the air above the ice, the more solution is pumped through the pipes.
Related Posts
-
How does the NHL put the red and blue lines under the ice on a hockey rink?
The ice in a hockey rink ranges in thickness from 3 inches to a mere 5/8 inch in places such as Madison Square Garden, where ice must be made and taken up in…
-
What Ice-Skating Race Is 124 Miles Long?
Aside from Olympic competitions, the world's most important ice-skating race is held annually in The Netherlands. This race, called the Elfstedentocht, or "Tour of the Eleven Towns," has been held almost every year…
-
Why Is Glacier Ice Purer Than Regular Ice and How Is Glacier Ice Formed Without Impurities?
Yes, glacier ice purer than regular ice, and it is not surprising that some entrepreneurs have marketed it commercially for drinks. There are several scientific and aesthetic reasons for the superiority of glacier…
-
Why Is Ice Slippery and How Is the Blade of An Ice Skate Able To Glide On Ice With No Friction?
One simple reason why ice is slippery is that pressure and friction from shoes or skates can melt a very thin layer at the top of snow or ice. It then forms a…
-
Who Discovered Dry Ice, Where Does Dry Ice Come From, and How Is Dry Ice Made?
At room temperature and pressure, carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a common gas, about 0.05 percent of the air at sea level by weight. It is also a product of combustion and the…
-
Who Invented Roller Skating?
Roller skating began around the middle of the 18th century, when an unknown man in The Netherlands made a pair of skates with wooden wheels. Most likely, the inventor fashioned the skates so…
