The energy released from the crystalization goes towards increasing the potential energy of the top of the water.
Freezing water releases energy to the surroundings, usually in the form of heat (the water gets colder, while the surroundings get warmer). It's the same effect as a handwarmer.... when the pack crystalizes, the energy released is absorbed by your hands, which get warmer.
In your hypothetical, (if the ball actually does raise up) I'd expect the water to freeze at an infinitesimally lower temperature than typical at your conditions.
I'd more expect the water to rise around the ball, but certainly can't know until doing it haha.
News_of_Entwives t1_j6uina1 wrote
Reply to Suppose I have a container of water with a ball floating on top of it. I put it outside overnight and the water freezes. Since the water's volume increases as it freezes, the ball is raised. Where does the increased gravitational potential energy come from? by schematicboy
The energy released from the crystalization goes towards increasing the potential energy of the top of the water.
Freezing water releases energy to the surroundings, usually in the form of heat (the water gets colder, while the surroundings get warmer). It's the same effect as a handwarmer.... when the pack crystalizes, the energy released is absorbed by your hands, which get warmer.
In your hypothetical, (if the ball actually does raise up) I'd expect the water to freeze at an infinitesimally lower temperature than typical at your conditions.
I'd more expect the water to rise around the ball, but certainly can't know until doing it haha.