If a container is filled with ice to the brim, what happens to the level of water when the ice completely melts?

Answer Details

When a container is filled with ice to the brim, some portion of the ice stays above the water level, and some portion of the ice stays below the water level. The portion of ice that is above the water level will melt and occupy the same amount of space as it did in its solid state. However, the portion of ice that is below the water level will melt and the resulting water will occupy less space than the ice did in its solid state because ice has a lower density than water. Therefore, when all the ice melts, the water level in the container will actually decrease slightly. Thus, the correct answer is: "the level of water drops."