The Melting Ice Mystery

How to Use This Simulation

Adjust the controls to change simulation variables
Click Start to run The Melting Ice Mystery
Observe the results in the display area
Click Reset to try different settings
Complete the Predict-Observe-Explain section below

Keyboard: Space/Enter = start/pause · R = reset · Esc = pause

Watch what happens to Arctic ice over 50 years...

Your Task:

Click "Start Observation" and watch the ice carefully. Pay attention to the melt rate — is it constant, or does it change? Write down what you notice!

Melt Rate: 0%/year

Year

2024

Ice Remaining

100%

Current Melt Rate

              0.5%/yr

Timeline Progress

2024 2049 2074

Melt Rate Over Time (notice the pattern!)

The Mystery

Scientists discovered something strange: as ice melts, the melting doesn't stay at a constant rate. Instead, it speeds up over time!

Why would less ice cause FASTER melting?

Did you notice? The melt rate started slow but got faster and faster. The ice didn't melt at a steady pace — it accelerated. This is the mystery you'll solve today!

Data Journal — Record & Analyze Your Experiments

My prediction for the key variable:

#	Observation

Record Your Observations

As you explore The Melting Ice Mystery, record what you notice:

Starting conditions: What are the initial settings?
Changes: What happens when you adjust the variables?
Patterns: Do you notice any patterns or relationships?
Evidence: What specific data supports your observations?

Predict • Observe • Explain

Predict

Before running the simulation, predict: what do you think will happen to The Melting Ice Mystery when you change the variables?

Observe

Run the simulation with different settings. Record the patterns and relationships you see.

Explain

Compare your observations with your prediction. Use scientific vocabulary to explain why The Melting Ice Mystery behaves this way.

Key Concepts

Variables

Changing one variable while controlling others helps us isolate cause and effect in The Melting Ice Mystery.

Patterns

Look for repeatable patterns in the data — they reveal the underlying scientific principles.

Models

This simulation is a model — a simplified representation that helps us understand The Melting Ice Mystery.