Science question help please?

Question

In order to make the ice in an icebox last longer, some poeple would wrap a blanket or newspaper around the ice to keep it from melting. Keep in mind the purpose of an icebox is cooling food explain why this was or was not a good idea.

thanks

Answer 1

The blankets, etc., which are warmer at room temperature, absorb heat out of the ice (cold moves to warm). The blankets, etc. should be frozen first...but then this defeats the purpose.

Nice, eh?

Answer 2

Both newspaper and blankets are very effective thermal insulators, meaning that they don't allow heat to pass through very well. This is largely due to the air that is trapped in the blanket or newspaper. The fact that blankets keep you warm in bed is due to the fact that they retain body heat.

So, if the purpose of the ice-box is to keep the ice for a drink or something, wrapping the ice in newspaper would keep it frozen for longer, however, in order to keep the ice-box cold, you want the ice to absorb heat from the local environment within the ice box. So in short, it depends on the purpose...

Answer 3

This is definitely not a smart thing to do to keep it frm melting as newspaper or blankets are conductors.

newspaper could make it last for a little while longer..

but blankets wouldnt as it would bind to the water molecules on the surface of ice and also it could generate some heat...