When it comes to cooling a drink, the surface area of the ice in contact with the drink plays a crucial role. The greater the surface area, the faster heat transfer occurs, resulting in faster cooling.
If you have the same amount of ice but chopped into smaller pieces, you would have a greater total surface area compared to a single big ice cube. Therefore, the smaller ice pieces would cool the drink faster than the single large ice cube.
The increased surface area of the smaller ice pieces allows for more rapid heat exchange between the ice and the surrounding liquid, accelerating the cooling process. Additionally, the smaller ice pieces distribute more evenly throughout the liquid, further enhancing the cooling effect.