Updated: 01/13/2009 5:47 PM KSTP.com | Print Story
By: Rob Koch

KOCH: Throwing hot water at the frigid cold, must try

Tuesday morning at 7am the temp was 18 below zero at our home in the far north Metro.  So I grabbed a glass measuring cup, filled it with water and stuck it in the microwave for 2 minutes or until it reached a light boil.  While waiting for the microwave to beep, grabbed my camcorder and my Kestrel thermometer.  Pulled the measuring cup out of the microwave and I head outside.  

The air temp 17 below zero, no wind, and skies are crystal clear.  Perfect!   So I take the cup of hot water, draw back my arm holding the cup and then rapidly bring my arm forward releasing the hot water into the frigid air. 

Watch the video clip to see the results.....

THURSDAY MORNING (Jan.15th) WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO TRY THIS EXPERIMENT FOR YOURSELF.

Here's a little more scientific explanation of what's happening if your interested.

Boiling water will freeze into tiny ice crystals almost instantly when tossed into frigid air forming an icy mist. Boiling water is close to the point of vaporization into gas so it breaks into minute droplets when thrown into the cold air. The tiny droplets lose heat so quickly that they freeze almost instantly.