Contract, or become smaller.
The melting point (or freezing point) is a characteristic for materials.
Yes.
Yes the melting temperature and the freezing temperature of materials are the same.
thetons absorb the excess heat
It is due to strong molecular interactions of the hydrogen bonds as the water is cooled. Most materials become more dense as they cool, and so does water but when it gets close to freezing its density is maximum and it gets less dense and at freezing (0 C) it expands and becomes ice, which floats. Not many materials do this. The 4C max density number is a property of the water
have you tried a place where the temperatures are below freezing for most of the year
Any rocks can be "damaged" by freezing
Creep is known to heat the subject materials for long period of times. It gets to where the materials get near the melting point with the increases of temperature.
Aluminum bromide (AlBr3) will lower the freezing point of water the most.
There has never been a "freezing of the universe".
Drying or freezing most likely. Depending on if the area has freezing temperatures or not.
Plastic does not have a freezing point, but as with most materials, the colder temperature weakens the structural integrity. Take concrete for example, it doesn't have a freezing point, yet the cracks you see are from extreme cold.