Chill Out: How Hot Objects Cool
Recommended for grades 9–12.
Introduction
When you have a hot drink, you know that it gradually cools off. Newton’s law of cooling provides us with a model for cooling. It states that the temperature difference Tdiff between a hot object and its surroundings decreases exponentially with time.
In the model T0 is the initial temperature difference, and k is a positive constant.
In this activity you will use a Temperature Probe to collect data as the warmed probe cools. You can then fit several mathematical models to the data.
Objectives
- Record temperature versus time cooling data.
- Model cooling data with an exponential function.
Sensors and Equipment
This activity requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You may also need an interface and software for data collection. What do I need for data collection?
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
Note: The experiment preview of the computer edition does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. Instructions for Logger Pro and other software (such as LabQuest App or TI handheld software, where available) are on the CD that accompanies the book. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book before performing experiments.
Standards Correlations
See all standards correlations for Real-World Math with Vernier »
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.