Q / According to Newton's law of cooling, the rate at which an object cools is

proportional to the difference in temperature between the object and the surrounding
medium. When an object cool surrounded by air at a temperature of 55 oC , the
cooling of the object is governed by a differential equation of the form
𝑑𝑇
= −𝑘 ( 𝑇 − 55 )
𝑑𝑡
where T oC is the temperature of the object after t minutes of cooling and k is a
constant.
A. Find the general solution of this differential equation, expressing T as
a function of t.
B. Given that a certain object cools from T (0) = 115 oC to T (15) = 90 oC
where time in minutes when surrounded by air at a temperature of 55 oC,
find:
(i) the temperature of this object after 40 min. T (40) = ?
(ii) the time taken for the temperature of this object to fall to 70 oC. T (?) = 70 oC

Solution
𝑑𝑇
A- = − 𝑘 ( 𝑇 − 55 )
𝑑𝑡
1
∫ 𝑑𝑇 = − ∫ 𝑘 𝑑𝑡
( 𝑇 − 55 )

ln| 𝑇 − 55 | = − 𝑘 𝑡 + 𝑐1
𝑇 − 55 = 𝑒 − 𝑘 𝑡+ 𝑐1
𝑇 − 55 = 𝑒 𝑐1 ∙ 𝑒 −𝑘 𝑡
𝑇 − 55 = 𝐶 𝑒 −𝑘 𝑡

𝑇( 𝑡 ) = 𝐶 𝑒 −𝑘 𝑡 + 55
B-
𝑇( 0 ) = 115 𝑜 𝐶 , 𝑇( 15 ) = 90 𝑜 𝐶
i- Find 𝑇( 40 ) = ? 𝑜 𝐶
ii- Find 𝑇 ( ? ) = 70 𝑜 𝐶

At 𝑇( 0 ) = 115 𝑜 𝐶
115 = 𝐶 𝑒 −𝑘 ∗ 0 + 55
115 = 𝐶 𝑒 0 + 55
𝐶 = 60
𝑇( 𝑡 ) = 60 𝑒 −𝑘 𝑡 + 55

At 𝑇( 15 ) = 90 𝑜 𝐶
𝑇( 𝑡 ) = 60 𝑒 −𝑘 𝑡 + 55
90 = 60 𝑒 −𝑘 ∗15 + 55
90 − 55 = 60 𝑒 − 15𝑘 + 55
35 = 60 𝑒 −15𝑘 [ ÷ 60 ]
35
= 𝑒 −15𝑘
60
35
ln( ) = −15 𝑘
60

𝑘 ≈ 0.03593
 𝑇( 𝑡 ) = 60 𝑒 −0.03593 𝑡 + 55

i- 𝑇( 40 ) = 60 𝑒 −0.03593 ∗40 + 55

𝑇( 40 ) = 69 . 25 𝑜 𝐶 Ans.

ii- 70 = 60 𝑒 −0.03593 𝑡 + 55

70 − 55
ln( ) = −0.03593 𝑡
60

𝑡 ≈ 38 . 58 min Ans.