Why do bridges freeze before roads

Exact matches only. Search in title. Search in content. Search in excerpt. Recent Posts. Read More ». How to get an Ohio probationary license Read More ».

Classes to Consider. Register Now. Learn More. Find Classes. What you may not be aware of is that not all surfaces freeze over at the same time. Bridges are known to get icy before the other roadways you travel on. There are a couple reasons for this. The main reason for this is that bridges and other overpasses are surrounded by air on all sides. There is no surface beneath the bridge, like there is for a road, to retain any heat.

You have answered 0 of 3 questions correctly and your score is:. Want to add a little wonder to your website? Help spread the wonder of families learning together. We sent you SMS, for complete subscription please reply. Follow Twitter Instagram Facebook. Why do bridges freeze before roads? How does the ground beneath a road help it to retain heat? Do bridges or roads conduct heat better?

Tags: See All Tags asphalt , automobile , bridge , car , cold , concrete , freeze , frozen , heat , ice , overpass , road , safety , science , slick , slippery , steel , temperature , transportation , truck , vehicle , weather , winter. Wonder What's Next? Try It Out Brrrr! Cozy up with a friend or family member and check out the following activities to learn more about the science behind freezing roads and bridges: Even if you're really careful, it's still possible to get stranded on the road in icy and snowy conditions.

Is your family vehicle prepared in case of such an emergency? Head out to the garage or driveway with an adult to check out the trunk of the family automobile.

Do you have the things you might need to make the best of a bad situation? Read how to Put Together a Winter Car Emergency Kit online to learn more about the types of things you should have on-hand in case of a winter emergency! Even though you may not be driving yet, it doesn't hurt to learn a few safe driving tips for winter weather.

Not only can you remind the adults you ride with about what to do in case of bad weather, you can also learn a lot about science and how vehicles operate differently in inclement weather. Up for a challenge? Why not try some COOL science experiments? Click on the links below to learn about several different types of fun science experiments you can do at home. Each experiment below helps you learn more about the different states of water and how it switches between liquid, solid and gas.

Did you get it? Test your knowledge. What are you wondering? Wonder Words bridge freeze road retain conduct overpass surface concrete icy asphalt transfer lengthen surround temperature Take the Wonder Word Challenge. Join the Discussion. Nyan cat Oct 18, Lisa Oct 22, Nov 12, Thanks for sharing your opinion, Lisa. Oct 23, Nyan Cat Oct 18, If there's signs, why would you get in a wreck on the bridge?

Wonderopolis Jan 10, Thank you for this article! I wonder if Oregon asphalt paving companies have to worry about this with all of those bridges in Portland!

Wonderopolis Nov 23, Team Unger 4 Apr 19, Wonderopolis, I loved the video you put for this topic. I learned two new words from this topic overpass is a bridge and asphalt is the small rocks on roads.

I also learned that bridges freeze faster than roads because they can't hold heat in. So, the road must cool faster than the roadway. Whether something warms or cools is related to its energy gains and losses.

So, as you stand facing an evening bonfire, your front warms because it gains more energy than it loses, while your back cools as it loses more energy to the cooler night air than it gains.

The energy losses from a bridge occur along the top surface and also along its side and bottom.