Freezing - GCSE Physics Definition

In GCSE Physics, "freezing" refers to the physical process through which a liquid turns into a solid as it loses heat. This occurs when the temperature of the liquid falls below its freezing point. For pure water, this point is 0°C under standard atmospheric pressure. Freezing is an example of a phase change, where energy is removed from the liquid, causing the molecules to slow down and arrange themselves into a rigid structure. This process is the opposite of melting, where a solid becomes a liquid.