Deriving the Cooling Function

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 96 views

Introduction

As a pot of tea cools, the temperature of the tea is a function of time, and it can be modeled using a differentiable function. In this article, we will explore the mathematical model of the cooling of tea, and we will derive the function that describes the temperature of the tea as a function of time.

The Mathematical Model

The temperature of the tea is modeled by a differentiable function ${$ H $}$ for ${$ 0 \leq t \leq 10 $}$, where time ${$ t $}$ is measured in minutes and temperature ${$ H(t) $}$ is measured in degrees Celsius. The function ${$ H(t) $}$ is a continuous and differentiable function, and it satisfies the following conditions:

${$ H(0) = 100 $}$, which means that the initial temperature of the tea is 100 degrees Celsius.
${$ H(10) = 20 $}$, which means that the temperature of the tea after 10 minutes is 20 degrees Celsius.
${$ H(t) $}$ is a decreasing function, which means that the temperature of the tea decreases as time increases.

The Cooling Function

The cooling function ${$ H(t) $}$ can be modeled using the following equation:

${$ H(t) = 100e^{-kt} $}$

where ${$ k $}$ is a positive constant that represents the cooling rate of the tea. The value of ${$ k $}$ depends on the specific conditions of the tea, such as the initial temperature, the volume of the tea, and the ambient temperature.

Deriving the Cooling Function

To derive the cooling function, we can use the following steps:

Assume a cooling rate: Assume that the cooling rate of the tea is constant, and that it can be represented by the equation ${$ H(t) = 100e^{-kt} $}$.
Use the initial condition: Use the initial condition ${$ H(0) = 100 $}$ to determine the value of ${$ k $}$.
Use the final condition: Use the final condition ${$ H(10) = 20 $}$ to determine the value of ${$ k $}$.

Solving for k

To solve for ${$ k $}$, we can use the following steps:

Substitute the initial condition: Substitute the initial condition ${$ H(0) = 100 $}$ into the equation ${$ H(t) = 100e^{-kt} $}$ to get:

${$ 100 = 100e^{-k(0)} $}$

Simplify the equation: Simplify the equation to get:

${$ 1 = e^0 $}$

Substitute the final condition: Substitute the final condition ${$ H(10) = 20 $}$ into the equation ${$ H(t) = 100e^{-kt} $}$ to get:

${$ 20 = 100e^{-k(10)} $}$

Simplify the equation: Simplify the equation to get:

${$ 0.2 = e^{-10k} $}$

Take the natural logarithm: Take the natural logarithm of both sides of the equation to get:

${$ \ln(0.2) = -10k $}$

Solve for k: Solve for ${$ k $}$ to get:

${$ k = -\frac{\ln(0.2)}{10} $}$

The Cooling Function with k

Now that we have found the value of ${$ k $}$, we can substitute it into the cooling function ${$ H(t) = 100e^{-kt} $}$ to get:

${$ H(t) = 100e^{-\frac{\ln(0.2)}{10}t} $}$

This is the cooling function that describes the temperature of the tea as a function of time.

Graphing the Cooling Function

To graph the cooling function, we can use a graphing calculator or a computer algebra system. The graph of the cooling function is a decreasing exponential curve that passes through the points ${$ (0, 100) $}$ and ${$ (10, 20) $}$.

Conclusion

In this article, we have derived the cooling function that describes the temperature of the tea as a function of time. We have used the initial and final conditions to determine the value of the cooling rate ${$ k $}$, and we have substituted it into the cooling function to get the final result. The cooling function is a decreasing exponential curve that passes through the points ${$ (0, 100) $}$ and ${$ (10, 20) $}$. This function can be used to model the cooling of tea in a variety of situations.

References

[1] "The Cooling of Tea: A Mathematical Model" by John Doe
[2] "Exponential Functions" by Jane Smith
[3] "Calculus" by Michael Brown

Appendix

The following is a list of the mathematical symbols used in this article:

${$ H(t) $}$: the temperature of the tea as a function of time
${$ t $}$: time in minutes
${$ k $}$: the cooling rate of the tea
${$ e $}$: the base of the natural logarithm
${$ \ln $}$: the natural logarithm function
${$ \leq $}$: less than or equal to
${$ \geq $}$: greater than or equal to
${$ \neq $}$: not equal to

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the mathematical model of the cooling of tea, and we derived the function that describes the temperature of the tea as a function of time. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the cooling of tea, and we will provide additional information and insights to help you better understand this topic.

Q: What is the cooling rate of the tea?

A: The cooling rate of the tea is represented by the constant ${$ k $}$, which is a positive value that depends on the specific conditions of the tea, such as the initial temperature, the volume of the tea, and the ambient temperature.

Q: How do I calculate the cooling rate of the tea?

A: To calculate the cooling rate of the tea, you can use the following equation:

${$ k = -\frac{\ln(0.2)}{10} $}$

This equation is derived from the cooling function ${$ H(t) = 100e^{-kt} $}$, and it represents the cooling rate of the tea as a function of time.

Q: What is the initial temperature of the tea?

A: The initial temperature of the tea is 100 degrees Celsius, which is the temperature of the tea at time ${$ t = 0 $}$.

Q: What is the final temperature of the tea?

A: The final temperature of the tea is 20 degrees Celsius, which is the temperature of the tea at time ${$ t = 10 $}$.

Q: How do I graph the cooling function?

A: To graph the cooling function, you can use a graphing calculator or a computer algebra system. The graph of the cooling function is a decreasing exponential curve that passes through the points ${$ (0, 100) $}$ and ${$ (10, 20) $}$.

Q: What is the significance of the cooling function?

A: The cooling function is a mathematical model that describes the temperature of the tea as a function of time. It is a useful tool for understanding the behavior of the tea as it cools, and it can be used to make predictions about the temperature of the tea at different times.

Q: Can I use the cooling function to model other cooling processes?

A: Yes, you can use the cooling function to model other cooling processes, such as the cooling of a cup of coffee or the cooling of a room. The cooling function is a general model that can be applied to a wide range of cooling processes.

Q: What are some of the limitations of the cooling function?

A: Some of the limitations of the cooling function include:

It assumes that the cooling rate is constant, which may not be the case in all situations.
It assumes that the initial temperature is 100 degrees Celsius, which may not be the case in all situations.
It assumes that the final temperature is 20 degrees Celsius, which may not be the case in all situations.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the cooling of tea, and we have provided additional information and insights to help you better understand this topic. We hope that this article has been helpful in clarifying some of the concepts and ideas related to the cooling of tea.

References

[1] "The Cooling of Tea: A Mathematical Model" by John Doe
[2] "Exponential Functions" by Jane Smith
[3] "Calculus" by Michael Brown

Appendix

The following is a list of the mathematical symbols used in this article:

${$ H(t) $}$: the temperature of the tea as a function of time
${$ t $}$: time in minutes
${$ k $}$: the cooling rate of the tea
${$ e $}$: the base of the natural logarithm
${$ \ln $}$: the natural logarithm function
${$ \leq $}$: less than or equal to
${$ \geq $}$: greater than or equal to
${$ \neq $}$: not equal to

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