Here in Northwest Ontario, we've had quite a mild fall. About a week or two ago the temperatures started to dip down to something closer to what would normally be expected for this time of year - daily highs in the vicinity of -5C and nightly lows down to -15C. But now, we're back to mild weather (it's 7C as I write this and our snow is melting fast). The other day, I was out in my barn and noticed something kind of neat (at least in my mind)...
Mountain Sound - Of Monsters and Men
Answer:
The calcium chloride solution provides the tire with thermal mass.
Thermal mass allows the tire to retain "coolth" while the surrounding air becomes warmer and more humid.
The "coolth" retained by the tire is initially sufficient to cause water vapour in the air to form ice crystals on the tire by deposition.
Cool, huh?
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| The white stuff on the tire is a thick layer of ice crystals. Any guesses as to what's going on here? It might help to know that the tube inside this tire is filled with a solution of calcium chloride for extra weight. The answer is "below the fold". |
Answer:
The calcium chloride solution provides the tire with thermal mass.
Thermal mass allows the tire to retain "coolth" while the surrounding air becomes warmer and more humid.
The "coolth" retained by the tire is initially sufficient to cause water vapour in the air to form ice crystals on the tire by deposition.
Cool, huh?
