The rate at which an object's temperature changes is directly related to the temperature difference between the object and its surroundings. A hot cup of tea has a higher temperature than its surroundings, so it will lose heat at a faster rate until it reaches equilibrium with the colder room temperature.
Yes, the material of the cup can affect how quickly the hot tea cools. Materials with high thermal conductivity, such as metal, will transfer heat away from the tea more quickly than materials with lower thermal conductivity, such as ceramic or glass.
Stirring the tea can help it cool faster by increasing the rate of heat transfer. When you stir the tea, you are bringing the hotter liquid from the bottom of the cup to the surface, exposing it to cooler air and allowing it to cool down more quickly.
Yes, adding milk or cream to the tea will affect its cooling rate. Dairy products have a higher specific heat capacity than water, meaning they require more energy to change temperature. This means that the tea with added milk or cream will take longer to cool down compared to plain hot tea.
Yes, the size and shape of the cup can affect how quickly the hot tea cools. A larger surface area allows for more heat to be transferred to the surrounding air, so a wide, shallow cup will cool the tea faster than a tall, narrow one. Additionally, a thinner cup will transfer heat more quickly than a thicker cup.