If I had two cups of hot water and put one in the fridge and left one

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scully
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    fridge Hot Water
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the cooling rates of two cups of hot water, one placed in a fridge and the other left at room temperature. It is established that the rate of cooling is influenced by the temperature difference between the water and its surroundings. In typical conditions, the cup in the fridge will cool faster than the one on the table. The conversation also touches on the Mpemba effect, which suggests that hot water can freeze faster than cold water under specific conditions, although this is not the primary focus of the discussion.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's Law of Cooling
  • Basic knowledge of temperature and heat transfer
  • Familiarity with the Mpemba effect
  • Concept of thermal equilibrium
NEXT STEPS
  • Research Newton's Law of Cooling in detail
  • Explore the Mpemba effect and its scientific explanations
  • Investigate the factors affecting heat transfer in liquids
  • Conduct experiments on cooling rates of liquids in different environments
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators explaining thermodynamics, and anyone interested in the principles of heat transfer and cooling rates.

Scully
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
If I had two cups of hot water and put one in the fridge and left one on the table which one after 10 minutes would be cooler ?
I have no idea and have been asked this question, thanks in advance for the answer.
 
Physics news on Phys.org


All else being equal the rate of cooling depend son the temperature difference between the water and it's surroundings - so unless it's very cold in your kitchen, the fridge would be better.
 


Scully said:
If I had two cups of hot water and put one in the fridge and left one on the table which one after 10 minutes would be cooler ?
I have no idea and have been asked this question, thanks in advance for the answer.

Do you really need physics to answer this question? I mean, really? I don't want to be harsh, but common sense should tell you the answer.
 


Isn't physics simply asking 'why' to commonsense questions?

edit: I did think they would follow up with a more 'but why' type question !
 


Scully said:
If I had two cups of hot water and put one in the fridge and left one on the table which one after 10 minutes would be cooler ?
I have no idea and have been asked this question, thanks in advance for the answer.

Yeah I find very strange that you have no idea about the answer. Also, the experiment is quite easy to do (you only 2 glasses of water + a fridge).
Then putting the same finger in each glass should tell you the answer.
 


The real question is why is it that hot water will make ice-cubes faster than cold water...
 


James Leighe said:
The real question is why is it that hot water will make ice-cubes faster than cold water...
Oh... then it's a totally different question!
It has been discussed in this forum and I'm pretty sure more than once.
Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mpemba_effect.
 


James Leighe said:
The real question is why is it that hot water will make ice-cubes faster than cold water...

It won't.

Except in very carefully-controlled circumstances.
 


mgb_phys said:
All else being equal the rate of cooling depend son the temperature difference between the water and it's surroundings - so unless it's very cold in your kitchen, the fridge would be better.

ok if the room was 20°C warmer what would the answer be ?
 
  • #10


Scully said:
ok if the room was 20°C warmer what would the answer be ?

You definitely didn't read the link I provided... There are many more parameters than the room temperature to take into account.
 

Similar threads

Is Drinking Hot Tea from Plastic Cups Unsafe Due to Chemical Leaching?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
I have a few questions about refrigeration and AC units
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Graduate Surface Tension - Using hot soapy water to wash clothes
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
High School Will there be water coming out of the last hole?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
Undergrad Filling water cup/bucket: which way is faster?
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
14K
High School Cooling things in water vs air
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School Water Wicking between two containers
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
670
High School Pumping water upwards into a large water tank
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
High School Why the significant water level drop?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
High School Why does increasing the height of a water tower increase water pressure?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
6K