Why Does Ice Float?

[plop] Drop some ice cubes in your cup Look at that — they're floating up! Bobbing gently, plop plop plop Ice is sitting right on top

Why does ice float? Tell me please! Water freezes and it won't sink — what a tease! Why does ice float? That's so cool! Water breaks the normal rules!

Most things shrink when they get cold Get smaller, tighter — that's what we're told But water? Water's not the same Water plays a different game!

Spread apart! Spread apart! When water freezes, here's the art: Molecules spread apart! Making crystals from the start!

More space means lighter, that's the rule Lighter things float — isn't that cool? Ice spreads out, takes up more room So up it goes — no sinking doom!

How do we know? We measured it — Same water, frozen, takes up MORE!

And that's a gift for fish below When lakes freeze over in the snow Ice floats on top just like a lid Keeps the water LIQUID — and that's what it did!