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

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the cooling time of boiling water under specific conditions, including constant room temperature and airflow. Key factors influencing the cooling rate include the container's surface area, thermal conductivity, and the initial temperature of the water. Participants suggest utilizing Newton's Law of Cooling as a foundational principle for understanding heat loss mechanisms. Observational data plotting is recommended for more accurate predictions based on specific containers and conditions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's Law of Cooling
  • Knowledge of thermal conductivity principles
  • Familiarity with heat transfer concepts
  • Basic skills in data plotting and analysis
NEXT STEPS
  • Research Newton's Law of Cooling and its applications
  • Explore thermal conductivity of different materials
  • Learn about heat transfer mechanisms in fluids
  • Investigate methods for data plotting and analysis for temperature changes
USEFUL FOR

Engineers, physicists, and anyone interested in thermodynamics or heat transfer calculations will benefit from this discussion.

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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