Scientific Laws & Principles
Intermediate

Newton's Law of Cooling

The rate at which an object cools is proportional to the temperature difference between the object and its surroundings.

Formula

T(t)=Ts+(T0Ts)ektT(t) = T_s + (T_0 - T_s)\, e^{-kt}

Variables

T(t)Temperature at time t
T_sSurrounding temperature
T_0Initial temperature
kCooling constant

Example

Hot coffee cools rapidly at first, then more slowly as it nears room temperature.

Did You Know?

Forensic scientists use this law to estimate time of death from body temperature.

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