Question

What are the benefits of the anomalous expansion of water? Explain in simple words.

Answer 1

Dear student,

Anomalous behaviour of water is defined as the expansion of water when the temperature decreases from 4^oC to 0^oC.
This is generally thermal expansion(the tendency of matter to change in volume in response to a change in temperature).

The anomalous behaviour of water plays an important role in the survival of lake,sea animals in cold water, which is explained below:
In winter, the temperature of surroundings falls, the water on the surface of lake or sea cools towards 4^oC and becomes denser. It attains maximum density at 4^oC and sinks down. As temperature decreases from 4^oC to 0^oC, water expands. The warmer (i.e., less dense ) water present near the bottom of lake rises up. However, once the colder water on top of lake reaches temperature below 4^oC , it becomes less dense and remains at the surface of lake, where it freezes. Now the water at the bottom of the lake remains at 4^oC , in which the water animals can remain safe below the ice and survive the harsh climate.

Regards.