Exercise · ZW-NEWTONS-LAW-OF-COOLING-003 · ★☆☆ Basic

A body at temperature \(T\) sits in surroundings at \(15\,^\circ\)C. Which equation expresses Newton's law with constant \(k>0\)?

Choose one option.

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  • A. \(T'=-k(T-15)\)

Explanation

The rate of change is proportional to \(T-T_a\) with opposite sign (the body tends toward its surroundings): \(T'=-k(T-15)\).

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Review the concept: Newton's law of cooling

States that the temperature \(T\) of a body, with initial value \(T_0\), changes at a rate proportional to its difference from the ambient temperature \(T_a\), with constant \(k>0\).

\[T'=-k\,(T-T_a)\;\Longrightarrow\; T(t)=T_a+(T_0-T_a)\,e^{-kt}\]

More practice problems: newton's law of cooling

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