Newton's law of cooling problem: Differential Eq

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SUMMARY

The discussion revolves around solving Newton's Law of Cooling applied to a thermometer's temperature readings. Initially, at 1:00 PM, the thermometer reads 70°F outside in -10°F conditions, dropping to 26°F by 1:02 PM. After being brought indoors at 1:05 PM, the air temperature is 70°F. The calculated temperature at 1:09 PM is approximately 68.1°F, derived using the differential equation du/dt = -k(u - u_o) with k determined as 0.39925.

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Edwardo_Elric
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Homework Statement


At 1:00 PM, a thermometer reading 70 degrees F is taken outside where the temperature is -10 degrees F (ten below zero). At 1:02PM, the reading is 26 degrees. At 1:05PM the thermometer is taken back indoors, where the air is at 70 degrees F. What is the temperature reading at 1:09PM?


Homework Equations


\frac{du}{dt} = -k(u - u_o)
integrating we have
u - u_o = Ce^{-kt}

u is the temperature reading
u_o is the temperature of the atmosphere


The Attempt at a Solution



solutions by sentences:

*"At 1:00 PM, a thermometer reading 70 degrees F is taken outside where the temperature is -10 degrees F (ten below zero)":
at t = 0 , u = 70
and u_o = 10
70 - (-10) = Ce^{-k(0)}
C = 80
Now we already know the constant

*"At 1:02PM, the reading is 26 degrees":
at t = 2; u = 26

26 - (-10) = 80e^{-k(2)}
k = 0.39925


my problem is that i don't understand when it is put indoors
*"At 1:05PM the thermometer is taken back indoors, where the air is at 70 degrees F":
the constant of proportionality is the same
(u - 70) = Ce^{0.39925t} <<< this might be the equation
...and i don't understand the problem anymore


the answer to this problem is 56 degrees Farenheit
 
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Edwardo_Elric said:

Homework Statement


At 1:00 PM, a thermometer reading 70 degrees F is taken outside where the temperature is -10 degrees F (ten below zero). At 1:02PM, the reading is 26 degrees. At 1:05PM the thermometer is taken back indoors, where the air is at 70 degrees F. What is the temperature reading at 1:09PM?


Homework Equations


\frac{du}{dt} = -k(u - u_o)
integrating we have
u - u_o = Ce^{-kt}

u is the temperature reading
u_o is the temperature of the atmosphere


The Attempt at a Solution



solutions by sentences:

*"At 1:00 PM, a thermometer reading 70 degrees F is taken outside where the temperature is -10 degrees F (ten below zero)":
at t = 0 , u = 70
and u_o = 10
70 - (-10) = Ce^{-k(0)}
C = 80
Now we already know the constant

*"At 1:02PM, the reading is 26 degrees":
at t = 2; u = 26

26 - (-10) = 80e^{-k(2)}
k = 0.39925


my problem is that i don't understand when it is put indoors
*"At 1:05PM the thermometer is taken back indoors, where the air is at 70 degrees F":
the constant of proportionality is the same
(u - 70) = Ce^{0.39925t} <<< this might be the equation
...and i don't understand the problem anymore


the answer to this problem is 56 degrees Farenheit
You have calculated u(t) as long as the thermometer is outside. What will the temperature of the thermometer be when t= 5 (at 10:05)?

Now you have a new problem to do: u is now whatever you got for the temperature at 10:05 and u0= 75. Fortunately k is exactly the same as before (it depends only on the thermometer) so you don't need to calculate that again.
 
for the time at exactly before 5 minutes i used the equation:
u - (-10) = 80e^{-0.39925(5)}
so
u = 0.8675 degrees

problem:
"At 1:05PM the thermometer is taken back indoors, where the air is at 70 degrees F":
so here it is now indoors and the air temperature is 70
for the time exactly after 5 minutes:


when t = 0, u = 0.8675 degrees;
(0.8675-70) = C(e^{0})
^
so
C = -69.1325

"What is the temperature reading at 1:09PM?"
t = 9min, u = ?
(u - 70) = -69.1325e^{-0.39925(9)}
u = 68.098 degrees

my answer seems to be wrong... can you please verify ?
 
Last edited:

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