Chapter 31: Problem 27
Solve the given problems by solving the appropriate differential equation. According to Newton's law of cooling, the rate at which a body cools is proportional to the difference in temperature between it and the surrounding medium. Assuming Newton's law holds, how long will it take a cup of hot water, initially at \(200^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\), to cool to \(100^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\) if the room temperature is \(80.0^{\circ} \mathrm{F},\) if it cools to \(140^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\) in \(5.0 \mathrm{min} ?\)
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Understand Newton's Law of Cooling
Write the Differential Equation
Solve the Differential Equation
Find the Constant C
Determine the Constant k
Find Time to Cool to 100°F
Complete the Calculation
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Differential Equations
The general form we see is \( \frac{dT}{dt} = k(T - T_{env}) \), where \( \frac{dT}{dt} \) denotes the derivative of temperature with respect to time, \( T \) is the temperature of the object, \( T_{env} \) is the ambient temperature, and \( k \) is a constant that reflects how quickly the temperature changes.
- The differential equation quantifies how the temperature of an object decreases or approaches the surrounding temperature.
- Separation of variables is a technique often used to solve this equation, allowing us to isolate and integrate both sides to find a solution for \( T \).
Temperature Change
The fundamental concept is that the temperature of an object is influenced by the temperature difference between itself and its surroundings.
- A hot object in a cooler environment will lose heat faster initially, gradually slowing as the object cools down closer to the ambient temperature.
- This change is exponential, as the difference between the object's temperature and the environment decreases, so does the rate of cooling.
Mathematical Modeling
This involves:
- Defining relevant variables such as initial and ambient temperatures.
- Using differential equations to create a mathematical representation of temperature change.
- Solving these equations to predict behavior over time, specifically when the water reaches certain temperatures.
Cooling Rate
Here are some key points:
- The constant \( k \) in the differential equation \( \frac{dT}{dt} = k(T - T_{env}) \) represents the cooling rate of the specific object.
- A higher \( k \) indicates that the object cools faster, while a lower \( k \) suggests a slower cooling rate.
- Experimental conditions such as material type, surface area, and environment could affect \( k \) and thus the cooling rate.