Have a glass of water, salt shaker, small bit of cotton thread and some ice on hand. Try get block ice cubes – round and novelty-shaped ice cubes can work against you.
You:
How about we break the ice, but without breaking any actual ice?
Ice Fishing
Science can help us defy logic and get conversations going, and you don’t even need to be Stephen Hawking to do it. All you need to demonstrate this are some bits and pieces from around the house or office kitchen.
Put a block of ice into the glass of water and reveal your piece of cotton thread.
You:
I don’t want to do all the work… so if you don’t mind taking this piece of thread and using it to lift that block of ice out of the water without touching the ice with your hands.
The person should be game, but won’t have much success in trying to figure it out.
You:
I don’t mean to be cold, but your ice fishing technique isn’t great.
Once they’ve finished trying to figure it out, ask them to hand over the thread.
Lay the piece of thread along the top of the ice floating in the water, the more surface area of ice it touches the better.
You:
My doctor said I should avoid salt, but this is a special occasion
Sprinkle some salt along the top of the ice, covering the thread and ice. Give it a few moments to bond.
You:
Now through the power of science and, er, salt… behold
Gently lift the thread upwards. If you’ve gotten your bond correct, the block of ice should lift effortlessly from the water – stuck to the thread.
Some extra lines you can try
- This is literally a bonding experience.
- The suspense always has me hanging by a thread.
- Without salt, I find this trick is a bit bland.
Get all onlookers to have a go for themselves. Have a competition to see who can use the least amount of salt to lift an ice block
I thought you were trying cut down on salt?
I am trying to, but this is for a good reason.
Is this how you prepare for ice fishing?
More like fish and chips hopping at the local pubs.
Does that work with any kind of ice?
Just make sure it is a nice square block, and keep the drink chilled.
- When you want to get people thinking like MacGyver.
- When you want to get the curiosity going.
- When you to throw some salt over your shoulder, you know, for luck.
- the canteen
- informal gatherings
- team building events
- at a restaurant
- socializing at the bar
- A glass of water (or any liquid really), some salt, a piece of cotton thread and an ice cube (try get a solid ice cube and not a designer rounded ice blob)
- Make sure the liquid is cold so that the ice does not melt too fast.
- Try this a few times and you will get the knack of it.
- Don’t throw salt in any wounds.
type type
Do It Yourself (DIY)
material material
a glass of water, a solid square ice block, salt and a piece of cotton thread
size size
a whisky glass size
durability durability
the ice will melt, so keep more ice handy
source source
the ether
time to impact time to impact
pretty much there and then
size of audience size of audience
one-on-one or a small group
possible health risk possible health risk
too much salt can be bad for you
reusable how many times you can use it
probably just once
training needed training needed
you may need to practice this a few times to get a feel for things
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