Time for Hot Water to Cool -- Calculation....

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the time it takes for boiling water to cool down under specific conditions, including a constant room temperature and airflow. Participants explore various factors that may influence the cooling process, such as the container's properties and the mechanisms of heat loss.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, Aiop, seeks guidance on calculating the cooling time for boiling water, emphasizing the need for a methodical approach.
  • Another participant questions Aiop about the initial steps taken to address the problem, suggesting a more engaged discussion.
  • A participant notes that the cooling process is influenced by the container's characteristics, including surface area and thermal conductivity, indicating that these factors complicate straightforward calculations.
  • There is a suggestion to consider the mechanisms of heat loss, prompting participants to think critically about which factors are most significant in a room temperature environment.
  • One participant recommends looking into Newton's Law of Cooling as a potential starting point for understanding the cooling process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying views on the factors affecting cooling time, with no consensus reached on a specific method or formula for calculation. The discussion remains open-ended, with multiple perspectives on how to approach the problem.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of the cooling process, including dependencies on container design and material properties, which are not fully resolved. There is also an implicit assumption that the room temperature and airflow remain constant throughout the cooling period.

aiop
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The title says it all. I would like to know how to calculate the time for boiling water to cool off. Assuming the temperature of the room is not changing and there is a constant degree of air flow over the water. Really I would just like to know how to go about calculating this.

Thanks in advanced,
Aiop
 
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aiop said:
The title says it all. I would like to know how to calculate the time for boiling water to cool off. Assuming the temperature of the room is not changing and there is a constant degree of air flow over the water. Really I would just like to know how to go about calculating this.

Thanks in advanced,
Aiop

what have you done so far to work this out ?
 
Really, the answer has more to do with the container that the water is in and the starting conditions (volume and temperature). It's an engineering question.

The surface areas presented by the sides of the container, the surface area at the top and the thermal conductivity of the materials will have a large effect and not one that can be easily calculated given the variety of materials and designs.

For a specific container, if temperature and airflow is constant and you want to be able to predict the rate of cooling in the future you might be better off with plotting some observations on a chart and then using that as lookup, maybe against a given volume or starting temperature.
 
@aiop: You need to do some thinking here, if you want a meaningful PF type conversation.
What mechanisms will be causing the heat loss? Which would be the major loss for hot water in a 'room temperature' room?
 
Start by having a look at Newton's Law of Cooling...
 

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