QUESTION 33

Under a certain condition, the rate of temperature drop of a cooling body in a medium of a
constant temperature, is proportional to the difference in temperature between the body and the
surrounding medium. Interpret this statement in the form of a differential equation. If the
temperature drop is from 70C to 60C in 3 minutes when the surrounding temperature is 15C,
find
1)

The temperature of the body 3 minutes later,

2)

The time taken for the body to cool from 60C to 40C

SEPERABLE METHOD
The temperature of the body 3 minutes later,
dT/dt= -k ( T-Ts )
dT/dt= -k ( T-15),

40 CT 70C

Note let Ts = 15,that is the surrounding temperature

Separating the variables
1/(T-15) dT = - k dt
Integrating both sides of the equation,we get
1/(T-15) dT = (-k dt)
ln T 15 = -kt + C
Exponent both side
T-15 = e-kt+c
T-15 = Ae-kt
T = 15 + Ae-kt

Given that T=70C when t = 0

70 = 15 + Aeo

where A = ec

70 = 15 + A
A = 55
Given that T=60C, when t = 3 minutes
60 = 15 + 55e-k(3)
e-3k = 9/11
-3k = ln (9/11)
k = 0.06689
T = 15 + 55e-0.06689t

When 3 minutes later, t = 3+3

t = 6 minutes
T = 15 + 55e-0.066899(6)
T = 51.8C

Therefore,the time taken for the body to cool from 60C to 40C

T = 15 + 55e-0.066899t
40 = 15 + 55e-0.066899t
e-0.066899t = 5/11
e-0.066899t = ln (5/11)
t = 11.79 minutes
t = 11.79 3
t = 8.79 minutes

LAPLACE METHOD
SOLUTION
(t) = -k [ (t) r(t) ]

........ (eqn. 1)

(t) = -k [ (t) 15 ]

........ (eqn. 2)

Let L { (t) }

= Y(s)

L { (t) }

-k L { (t) } + kL {15}

sY(s)

-k Y(s) + 15k/s

Substitute = 70
sY(s) 70

-k Y(s) + 15k/s

(s +k ) Y(s)

70 +15k/s

70 15k/s
sk

Y(s)

Using partial fraction

15 k

S' :

A (s+k) + Bs

0 =

S: 15 =

Y(s)

(t)

A+B,

= A+ 15

A,

= -15

15(s+k)-15s

= { 70 + 15 - 15 }

(t)

= 70 + 15 - 15

(t)

(t)

= 60 C , t = 3 minutes

60

= 15 + 55

15 + 55

ln

= ln

-3k

ln

0.06689

(t)

15 + 55

............. (eqn. 3)

.............. (eqn. 4)

When 3 min later , t = 3 + 3 = 6 minutes , (t)= ?

(t)

= 15 + 55

(t)

= 51.8C

Time taken for body cools from 60C to 40C

t = 11.79 minutes

t for cooling 70C 40C = 11.79 minutes

60C 40C = ?

t = 11.79 minutes 3 minutes

Ans :t = 8.79 minutes