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Newton’s Law of Cooling


The rate of cooling of an object, dTdt\displaystyle\frac{dT}{dt} ,is proportional to the temperature difference between the object and its surrounding (T−Ts)(T − T_s).

Newton’s Law of Cooling

dTdt=k(T−Ts)\boxed{\frac{dT}{dt}=k(T-T_s)}

where kk is the constant of proportionality,TT is the temperature of the object at time tt,and TsT_s is the temperature of the surroundings. The equation reduces to a growth/decay differential equation and the solution is
T(t)=(T(0)−Ts)e−kt+Ts\boxed{T(t)=(T(0)-T_s)e^{-kt}+T_s}

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Example: Newton’s law of cooling

A cupcake is removed from a −20∘C-20^{\circ}C freezer into a room at 20∘C20^{\circ}C. The unfortunate customer is distracted, letting the temperature of the delicious treat rise to a temperature of 0∘C0^{\circ}C in 30 minutes. If the optimal temperature of consumption is −10∘C-10^{\circ}C, and this system follows Newton’s law of cooling, when should he have consumed the treat?

T(0)=−20 T(0) = -20
Ts=20 T_s = 20
T(30)=0T(30)=0
T(?)=−10T(?)=-10

T(t)=(−20−20)e−kt+20=−40e−kt+20 T(t) = (-20-20)e^{-kt}+20 = -40e^{-kt}+20

T(30)=0=−40e−30k+20T(30) = 0 = -40e^{-30k}+20

k=−130ln⁡(1/2) k = -\dfrac{1}{30}\ln(1/2)

then

T(t)=−40e(1/30)ln⁡(1/2)t+20\displaystyle T(t)=-40e^{(1/30)\ln(1/2)t}+20

⇒−10=−40e(1/30)ln⁡(1/2)t+20\displaystyle \Rightarrow -10 = -40e^{(1/30)\ln(1/2)t}+20

⇒ln⁡(34)=130ln⁡(12)t\Rightarrow \ln\left(\dfrac{3}{4}\right) = \dfrac{1}{30}\ln\left(\dfrac{1}{2}\right)t

⇒t=30ln⁡(3/4)ln⁡(1/2)≈12.5 mins\Rightarrow t = 30\dfrac{\ln(3/4)}{\ln(1/2)}\approx \boxed{12.5 \text{ mins}}

Consider Newton's law of cooling
dTdt=−2+T10.\frac{\text{d}T}{\text{d}t}=-2+\frac{T}{10}.
Determine T(t)    if  T(0)=100T(t)\,\,\,\, \text{if } \, T(0)=100.



Extra Practice