Exercise · ZW-NEWTONS-LAW-OF-COOLING-005 · ★★☆ Intermediate

A body at \(100\,^\circ\)C in surroundings at \(20\,^\circ\)C drops to \(60\,^\circ\)C in \(5\) min. What is \(k\)?

Choose one option.

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  • A. \(k=\dfrac{\ln 2}{5}\)

Explanation

From \(60=20+80e^{-5k}\) we get \(e^{-5k}=\tfrac12\), so \(k=\ln2/5\).

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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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