APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION: NEWTON’S LAW OF COOLING

Christian Elim Soligan

Newton's Law of Cooling states that the temperature of an object changes at a rate
proportional to the difference in temperature between its own temperature and the
temperature of its surroundings. Writing in differentials, we have;

𝒅𝒖
= −𝒌(𝒖 − 𝒖𝒔 )
𝒅𝒕
where u is the temperature of the object, 𝑢𝑠 is the temperature of the surrounding and –k is
the proportional constant. Deriving for the formula, we have;

𝑑𝑢
= −𝑘(𝑢 − 𝑢𝑠 )
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑢
= −𝑘𝑑𝑡 Separation of Variable
(𝑢−𝑢𝑠 )

𝑑𝑢
∫ (𝑢−𝑢 ) = −𝑘 ∫ 𝑑𝑡 Integrating both sides
𝑠

ln|𝑢 − 𝑢𝑠 | = −𝑘𝑡 + 𝐶1

𝑢 − 𝑢𝑠 = 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡+𝐶1

𝑢 − 𝑢𝑠 = 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡 ∙ 𝑒 𝑐1

𝑢 = 𝐶𝑒 −𝑘𝑡 + 𝑢𝑠 Letting 𝑒 𝑐1 = 𝐶, EQUATION 1

When t = 0, 𝑢 = 𝑢𝑖 or the initial temperature of the object. Hence by substituting the values
to equation 1;

𝑢𝑖 = 𝐶𝑒 −𝑘(0) + 𝑢𝑠

𝐶 = 𝑢𝑖 − 𝑢𝑠

Therefore, by substituting the value of C to the equation 1, we have;

𝒖 = (𝒖𝒊 − 𝒖𝒔 )𝒆−𝒌𝒕 + 𝒖𝒔 General Formula

PRACTICAL EXAMPLES:

A thermometer which has been at the reading of 70°F inside a house is placed
outside where the air temperature is 10°F. Three minutes later it is found that the
thermometer reading is 25°F. Find the thermometer reading after 6 minutes.

Solution:

𝑢𝑖 = 70

𝑢𝑠 = 10

𝑢 = (𝑢𝑖 − 𝑢𝑠 )𝑒 −𝑘𝑡 + 𝑢𝑠

𝑢 = (70 − 10)𝑒 −𝑘𝑡 + 10

Prepared By: Christian Elim Soligan
Reference: https://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/elementary-differential-equations/theremometer-
reading-after-6-minutes-being-outside
𝑢 = 60𝑒 −𝑘𝑡 + 10

𝑢 = 25 when t = 3

25 = (70 − 10)𝑒 −𝑘(3) + 10

15 = (60)𝑒 −3𝑘

15
= 𝑒 −3𝑘
60
1 1
𝑘 = − ln ( )
3 4

Substitute the value of k to the equation1. Hence,

𝑡 1
𝑢 = 60𝑒 3 ln(4) + 10

What is the thermometer reading after 6 minutes? Let t = 6, then,

𝑡 1
𝑢 = 60𝑒 3 ln(4) + 10
6 1
𝑢 = 60𝑒 3 ln(4) + 10
1
𝑢 = 60𝑒 2 ln(4) + 10

𝒖 = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟕𝟓 Degree Fahrenheit

Practice for more exercises:

1. A thermometer reading 75 degree Fahrenheit is taken out where the temperature is

20 degree Fahrenheit. The thermometer reading is 30 degree Fahrenheit 4 minutes
later. Find the time (in minutes) taken for the reading to drop from 75 degree
Fahrenheit to within half degree of the air temperature.

2. Suppose that a corpse was discovered in a motel room at midnight and its
temperature was . The temperature of the room is kept constant at .
Two hours later the temperature of the corpse dropped to . Find the time of
death.

Prepared By: Christian Elim Soligan

Reference: https://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/elementary-differential-equations/theremometer-
reading-after-6-minutes-being-outside