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In winter, freezing water can break pipes and even crack engine blocks. why does this happen?

User Hsnbrg
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During the winter, broken pipes and cracks at the engine blocks are not something strange and unknown. This is due to the frozen water, or better said the ice. The pipes and the engine blocks are hard materials with constant volume and their elasticity is minimal. On the other hand we have the frozen water, ice, that constantly expands, and as it expand it takes greater volume and makes pressure that constantly increases until it breaks free. The pipes and the engine blocks can not always withstand the amount of pressure and break/crack under it.

User Dat Chu
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