Daily Archives: February 16, 2026

Why don’t trees freeze and burst in the winter like cold pipes?

When liquid water freezes, it expands as the water molecules spread out to form a solid crystalline lattice. If the freezing water is contained in a closed vessel, such as a metal pipe, it can press hard on the sides as it expands, causing the container to burst.
Trees contain water that is transported throughout the tree by the phloem and xylem, which we can think of as pipes.
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Category: Climate, Seasons

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