Newton’s Law of Cooling Formula (Explained with Derivation)

You might be thinking, It’s so difficult to derive the formula for Newton’s law of cooling, right?

(As there are so many difficult mathematical steps involved in the derivation of newton’s law of cooling)

Maybe yes, I don’t know.

Don’t worry,

I’ll show you the exact steps to derive the above mentioned Newton’s law of cooling formula.

Newton’s law of cooling formula

Before moving onto the Newton’s law of cooling formula,

Let’s take a quick look on the statement of Newton’s law of cooling.

According to Newton’s law of cooling,

“The rate of heat lost by a body is directly proportional to temperature difference of a body and its surroundings”

Therefore,

– dQ / dt ∝ ∆T

– dQ / dt = k ∆T

– dQ / dt = k (T₂ – T₁)

dQ / dt = – k (T₂ – T₁)

Where,

dQ / dt = Rate of heat lost by a body

∆T = (T₂ – T₁) = Temperature difference between the body and its surroundings

T₁ = Temperature of the surroundings

T₂ = Temperature of the body

k = positive constant which depends upon the area and nature of the surface of the body

Newton’s law of cooling derivation

Newton’s law of cooling formula can be stated as:

T_(t) = T_s + (T₀ -T_s) e^-Kt

Let’s consider one example in order to derive this above mentioned Newton’s law of cooling formula.

Example:
A body having an initial temperature of T₀ cools down gradually when it is left on the table. If the temperature of the surrounding is T_s, what will be the temperature of the body after time t?

Solution:

Given data:

Initial temperature of the body = T₀

Temperature of the surroundings = T_s

Temperature of the body after time t, T_(t) =?

According to newton’s law of cooling, 

– dQ / dt ∝ ∆T

– dQ / dt = k ∆T

– dQ / dt = k (T₂ – T₁) …………… Equation (1)

Let, 

m = mass of the body at temperature T₂

s = specific heat capacity of the body at temperature T₂

T₁ = temperature of the surroundings

If the temperature of the body falls down by a small amount dT₂ in time dt then,

Amount of heat lost can be given by,

∆Q = ms ∆T

dQ = ms dT₂

Rate of loss of heat is given by,

dQ / dt = ms (dT₂ / dt) ………..…. Equation (2)

Substituting the value of Equation (2) in Equation (1) we get, 

– ms (dT₂ / dt) = k (T₂ – T₁)

dT₂ / (T₂ – T₁) = – k dt / ms

dT₂ / (T₂ – T₁) = – K dt ………..…. Equation (3)

Where, 

K = k / ms

T₂ = temperature of the body

T₁ = temperature of the surroundings

But, 

According to our question,

T = temperature of the body

T_s = temperature of the surroundings

Substituting the above terms in Equation (3) we get, 

dT / (T – T_s) = – K dt ………..…. Equation (4)

Now, 

The initial temperature of the body is T₀ and the temperature of the body after time t is T_(t).

Therefore, the following limits should be considered: 

Limit for L.H.S: T₀ to T_(t)

Limit for R.H.S: 0 to t

Therefore, 

On integrating Equation (4) with proper limits we get,

On integrating the above equation we get,

On solving the above equation with proper limits we get,

ln { (T_(t) – T_s) / (T₀ – T_s) } = – K (t – 0)

ln { (T_(t) – T_s) / (T₀ – T_s) } = – Kt

(T_(t) – T_s) / (T₀ – T_s) = e^-Kt

(T_(t) – T_s) = (T₀ – T_s) e^-Kt

T_(t) = T_s + (T₀ -T_s) e^-Kt

Where, 

T_(t) = Temperature of the body at time t

T_s = Temperature of the surroundings

T₀ = Temperature of the body

This formula can be used to calculate the temperature of the body at a given time.

Newton’s law of cooling problems

Numerical 1:
A metal sphere is heated up to 80 °C. In 3 minutes, the sphere cools down up to 66 °C. If the temperature of the surroundings is 20 °C, how much time will the metal sphere take to cool down from 50 °C to 46 °C?

Solution:

Case 1: Metal sphere cools down from 80 °C to 60 °C

The average temperature of 80 °C and 66 °C is 73 °C, which is 53 °C above the room temperature.

(i.e. the metal sphere cools up to 14 °C in 3 minutes)

Now, 

As per the Newton’s law of cooling,

dT₂ / (T₂ – T₁) = – K dt

dT₂ / dt = – K (T₂ – T₁)

So we can write as,

Change in temperature / time = K T

14 °C / 3 min = K (53 °C) …………… Equation (1)

Case 2: Metal sphere cools down from 50 °C to 46 °C

The average temperature of 50 °C to 46 °C is 48 °C, which is 28 °C above the room temperature.

(i.e. the soup cools up to 4 °C in t Time)

Note: K remains the same in both the cases

Therefore,

Change in temperature / time = K T

4 °C / Time = K (28 °C) …………… Equation (2)

On dividing Equation (1) and Equation (2) we get,

(14 °C / 3 min) × (Time / 4 °C) = K (53 °C) / K (28 °C)

(14 × Time) / (3 × 4) = 53 / 28

(7 × Time) / 6 = 53 / 28

Time = (53 × 6) / (28 × 7)

Time = 318 / 196

Time = 318 / 196

Time = 1.6 minutes

Time = 96 seconds

Therefore, the metal sphere takes 1.6 minutes to cool down from 50 °C to 46 °C.

Numerical 2:
When a hot copper rod having a temperature of 66 °C is placed in a surrounding temperature of 25 °C, it’s temperature falls down to 50 °C in 2 minutes. Calculate the time taken by the copper rod to cool down from 45 °C to 41 °C.

Solution:

Case 1: Copper rod cools down from 66 °C to 50 °C

The average temperature of 66 °C and 50 °C is 58 °C, which is 33 °C above the room temperature.

(i.e. copper rod cools up to 16 °C in 2 minutes)

Now, 

Using Newton’s law of cooling,

dT₂ / (T₂ – T₁) = – K dt

dT₂ / dt = – K (T₂ – T₁)

So we can write as,

Change in temperature / time = K T

16 °C / 2 min = K (33 °C) …………… Equation (1)

Case 2: Copper rod cools down from 45 °C to 41 °C

The average temperature of 45 °C to 41 °C is 43 °C, which is 18 °C above the room temperature.

(i.e.copper rod cools up to 4 °C in t Time)

Note: K remains the same in both the cases

Therefore,

Change in temperature / time = K T

4 °C / Time = K (18 °C) …………… Equation (2)

On dividing Equation (1) and Equation (2) we get,

(16 °C / 2 min) × (Time / 4 °C) = K (33 °C) / K (18 °C)

(2 × Time) = 33 / 18

Time = 33 / 36

Time = 0.9 minutes

Time = 54 seconds

Therefore, the copper rod takes 0.9 minutes to cool down from 45 °C to 41 °C.

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Don’t you think it is easy to remember the formula of Newton’s law of cooling?

(Let me know by leaving a comment)

If you want to read more about the Newton’s laws,

You can check here:

Newton’s law of cooling

Newton’s first law of motion
Newton’s first law example

Newton’s second law of motion
Newton’s second law example
Newton’s second law equation
Definition of newton’s second law

Newton’s third law of motion
Newton’s third law example

Newton’s laws of motion
How many newton’s laws are there

Newton’s law of inertia
Newton’s law of inertia examples

Newton’s universal law of gravitation