Final answer:
Snow density relates to the volume of ice and water per total mass with ice being less dense than water at 0°C. Calculations of the pressure to prevent ice from expanding can indicate the forces at play during freezing, which are significant enough to damage biological cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The density of a substance is the mass-to-volume ratio, often expressed as 'mass per unit volume.' In the context of snow density, this principle applies to the volume of ice and water in comparison to the total mass.
The density of water at 0°C is slightly less than 1000 kg/m³, specifically 999.84 kg/m³, and the density of ice at 0°C is 917 kg/m³. To calculate the pressure necessary to prevent ice from expanding when it freezes, you would take into account the increase in volume due to the transition from liquid to solid; however, such a calculation would be an approximation since it neglects the influence of high pressure on the freezing temperature.
For biological cells, the implications are significant since the expansion of water into ice can cause cellular disruption or damage. This expansion can lead to the rupture of cell walls when water inside cells freezes and expands. The forces associated with freezing water are tremendous, capable of fracturing engine blocks and rocks, indicating the strength of the expansion process during the phase change from liquid to solid.