Self-Induced Displacement and Rotation of a Melting Ice Disk on the Still Water Surface

The results of an experimental investigation and physical modeling of self-induced displacement and rotation of an ice disk on the still water surface are presented. The dependence of the ice specimen rotation velocity on the water salinity and the depth of the experimental container is measured. It is shown that the reason for observable motions over the still water surface is the cellular convective flow generated by the ice melting process.