Question

If you put some leftover spaghetti in a bowl and mug of water in the microwave at the same time, which will cool down faster after they were heated?

Answer 1

According to Newton's law of cooling the temperature of a body that is colling down is related to time by the following formula:

`T=T_a+(T_0-T_a)e^(-kt)`

Where:

`\begin{gathered} T=\text{ temperature} \\ T_a=\text{ }ambient\text{ temperature} \\ T_0=\text{ initial temperature} \\ k=cooling\text{ coefficient} \end{gathered}`

In this case, the initial and ambient temperatures are the same. Therefore, the rate at which the temperature changes depends on the value of "k". The greater the value of "k" the faster the mass will cool down.