What is the formula for calculating rate of temperature change?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the formula for calculating the rate of temperature change, specifically in the context of temperature data collected over time. Participants are examining the application of the formula ºC.min-1 as presented in a paper and comparing it to their own data series, questioning the consistency and accuracy of the temperature change values reported.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the interpretation of the formula ºC.min-1, noting discrepancies between their calculations and those presented in a paper.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the rate of temperature change may not be linear, referencing Newton's Cooling Law and suggesting that temperature changes could vary at different points.
  • A participant suggests plotting the slope of the temperature data graph to visualize the rate of change over time.
  • Concerns are raised about the accuracy of the paper's graph, particularly regarding a reported rate of 2.2 ºC.min-1 despite minimal temperature differences observed.
  • One participant points out that the rate of change can be negative when the temperature is falling, indicating a potential misunderstanding of the graph's representation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty about the application of the formula and whether the reported values in the paper are accurate. There is no consensus on the correct interpretation of the data or the formula's application, and multiple competing views remain regarding the nature of temperature change.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the temperature change may not be constant and that the calculations depend on the specific time intervals used. There are also references to the need for more information about the temperature data and its graphical representation to clarify the discrepancies.

valete
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Hi all:

Sorry for the basic question but I have come across the formula ºC.min-1 in a paper which I believe is the formula for temperature change during one minute. The thing is that when I go to see how the authors used it, they have greater temperature change values than the ones a basic use of the formula implies in my interpretation (for instance, T1=27º; T2= 28º; T1 and T2 is one minute span so rate of temp change is 1ºC). Is that right or I'm missing something in the formula?

So, basically I have a data series of temperatures (as the authors of the paper) taken every minute and I want to know what is the rate of temperature change. So, which formula (and how) to use it?

Thanks!
 
Science news on Phys.org
valete said:
Hi all:

Sorry for the basic question but I have come across the formula ºC.min-1 in a paper which I believe is the formula for temperature change during one minute. The thing is that when I go to see how the authors used it, they have greater temperature change values than the ones a basic use of the formula implies in my interpretation (for instance, T1=27º; T2= 28º; T1 and T2 is one minute span so rate of temp change is 1ºC). Is that right or I'm missing something in the formula?

So, basically I have a data series of temperatures (as the authors of the paper) taken every minute and I want to know what is the rate of temperature change. So, which formula (and how) to use it?

Thanks!

Your question cannot be answered as given here because we do not know if the temperature change is LINEAR!

While it may be true that from 27 C to 28 C, the rate of temperature change per minute is 1 C, we have no idea how it would change at other temperatures! You gave no description, or even a graph, of the temperature change. It is entirely possible (an in fact, probable if one understands Newton's Cooling Law) that the rate of change of temperature may not be a constant.

Zz.
 
Thanks for the answer.
I attach the original graph I saw in the paper I mention and a graph with my data series to see if it helps but I believe that the rate of temperature change, in these cases, is not constant.

So, what I basically want to do is to plot in my graph a rate of temperature change similar to what appears in the graph taken from the paper.

Thanks!
 

Attachments

  • 08-02-12 detalhe CINF minuto.jpg
    08-02-12 detalhe CINF minuto.jpg
    29.2 KB · Views: 1,461
  • graph.jpg
    graph.jpg
    25.4 KB · Views: 1,841
valete said:
Hi all:

Sorry for the basic question but I have come across the formula ºC.min-1 in a paper which I believe is the formula for temperature change during one minute. The thing is that when I go to see how the authors used it, they have greater temperature change values than the ones a basic use of the formula implies in my interpretation (for instance, T1=27º; T2= 28º; T1 and T2 is one minute span so rate of temp change is 1ºC).

Not quite correct. The rate of temperature change is 1 ºC.min-1

eg it's not "1ºC"

Basic calculation would be..

= (Temperature 2 - Temperature 1) / (Time 2 - Time 1)

= (28-27)/1

= 1 ºC.min-1


Checking the units...

= (ºC - ºC) / (min - min)

= ºC/min

= ºC.min-1
 
valete said:
Thanks for the answer.
I attach the original graph I saw in the paper I mention and a graph with my data series to see if it helps but I believe that the rate of temperature change, in these cases, is not constant.

So, what I basically want to do is to plot in my graph a rate of temperature change similar to what appears in the graph taken from the paper.

Thanks!

So plot a second graph showing the slope of your first graph.

Are your times in mins and seconds or hours and mins?

I've assumed mins and seconds below..

Looking at the left hand side of your graph...

At time = 13:00.5, T = 26.3
At time = 13:01.5, T= 26.1

So at 13.01 the slope is

=(26.1-26.3)/(1.5-0.5)
=-0.2/1
=-0.2 ºC per second

Negative because the temperature is falling.
 
Thanks, my times are actually hours and minutes but it does not matter.

I thought so but if you look at the second graph (from the paper) you realize that they could not have used that formula since they plot, for instance, a 2.2 ºC.min-1 when in that minute (from 12:14 to 12:15) there is a very small temperature difference between the two times (0.1 ºC or 0.2 at most)... So how are they using the formula to give these results? Are their calculations accurate? I'm still missing something?
Thanks
 
You are correct.

There appears to be something wrong with their graph (or our understanding of it) because even when the temperature is falling the rate of change is shown as +ve.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 92 ·
4
Replies
92
Views
10K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K