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Physics experiment #13: Hot Coffee

Nicolai Solheim, 3IBG


Physics 3HL
Physics experiment #13: Hot Coffee
Purpose: By comparing two different cups of coffee, we will find the best timing to add
non-heated milk if the coffee is to be consumed after 14:30 minutes, and
further investigate Newton’s Law of Cooling in order to show which of the
two options is the best way of keeping the coffee as hot as possible.

The two different cups of coffee:


I) Coffee with non-heated milk added at t00:00
II) Coffee with non-heated milk added at t14:30

Newton’s law of cooling: “The rate at which a body loses heat is


proportional to the difference in temperature between the body and the
surroundings. It is an empirical law that is only true for substantial
temperature differences if the heat loss is by forced convection or
conduction.”
- Oxford Dictionary of Physics (2006)

Procedure: 1) Assuming that the only possibilities for adding milk are t00:00 and t14:30, a
cup of coffee without milk is made.

2) At t00:00 the temperature (T00:00) is measured and 50 ml milk is poured into


the cup of coffee.

3) The temperatures (Tmm:ss) of the cup are taken at equal intervals of 30


seconds.

4) At t14:30, the final temperature is taken.

5) A new cup of coffee without milk is made.

6) The temperatures (Tmm:ss) of the cup are taken at equal intervals of 30


seconds.

7) After the measure of T14:00 50 ml of milk is poured into the cup of coffee,
and at t14:30 the final temperature (T) of the cup is measured.

Equipment:
- 2 foam cups (2 · 350 ml)
- 2 beakers
- 1 thermometer (θ ºC)
- 1 stand
- 1 water boiler
- coffee
- milk (in this experiment substituted with water)

Experimental data:
Milk (substituted with water):
Tmilk = Initial temperature = 17.3 ± 0.5 ºC

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Physics experiment #13: Hot Coffee
Nicolai Solheim, 3IBG
Physics 3HL
Vmilk = volume = 50.0 ml

Cup I: Coffee with cold milk added at t00:00:


T(I)0 = initial temperature of the object = 79.5 ± 0.5 ºC
T(I)a = ambient (constant) temperature = 25.0 ± 0.5 ºC
T(I)t = temperature of the object at time t00:00 = 89 ± 0.5 ºC
V(I) = volume = 300.0 ± 50 ml

Cup II: Coffee with cold milk added at t14:30:


T(II)0 = initial temperature of the object = 88.8 ± 0.5 ºC
T(II)a = ambient (constant) temperature = 25.0 ± 0.5 ºC
T(II)t = temperature of the object at time t00:00 = 89 ± 0.5 ºC
V(II) = volume = 300.0 ± 50 ml

Time Temperature (Celcius)


Coffee /w milk Coffee uncertainty
º
99,0 99,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:00:00 89,0 89,0 ± 0.5 C
add milk
º
00:00:15 79,5 88,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:00:30 77,0 87,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:01:00 76,0 86,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:01:30 75,0 85,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:02:00 74,0 83,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:02:30 73,0 81,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:03:00 72,0 80,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:03:30 71,0 79,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:04:00 70,0 78,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:04:30 69,2 76,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:05:00 68,8 76,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:05:30 68,0 75,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:06:00 67,2 74,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:06:30 66,5 73,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:07:00 65,8 72,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:07:30 65,1 71,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:08:00 64,6 70,2 ± 0.5 C
º
00:08:30 64,0 69,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:09:00 63,5 68,8 ± 0.5 C
º
00:09:30 63,0 68,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:10:00 62,5 67,2 ± 0.5 C
º
00:10:30 62,0 66,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:11:00 61,5 66,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:11:30 61,1 65,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:12:00 60,5 64,8 ± 0.5 C
º
00:12:30 60,1 64,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:13:00 59,8 63,4 ± 0.5 C
º
00:13:30 59,3 62,8 ± 0.5 C
º
00:14:00 59,0 62,2 ± 0.5 C
add milk
º
00:14:30 58,6 55,5 ± 0.5 C

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Physics experiment #13: Hot Coffee
Nicolai Solheim, 3IBG
Physics 3HL
Constant temperatures:
T(I)a = ambient (constant) temperature = 25.0 ± 0.5 ºC
k = temperature constant for cup I =k
k = temperature constant for cup II =k

Data processing and presentation:


According to Newton’s Law of Cooling,

d (T )
∝ (Tt − Ta )
dt
⇒ ΔQ = mCΔT which allows us to write:
d (T )
⇒ = −k ⋅ (Tt − Ta ) = −k ⋅ y (Where k is negative as the coffee is cooling down.)
dt
d ( y)
⇒ = −k ⋅ y
dt
⇒ y (t ) = y0 e − k ⋅t
⇒ (Tt − Ta ) = (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e − k ⋅t
⇒ Tt = Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e − k ⋅t
⇒ T (t ) = Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e − k ⋅t

From this we have that: ⇒ T (t ) = Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e − k ⋅t


t = time in minutes
T(t) = Tt = temperature of the object at time t
Ta = ambient constant temperature
T0 = initial temperature of the object
k = constant to be found

In order to find the temperature constants we need to solve for


T (t ) = Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e − k ⋅t

For the first cup of coffee (cup I), we have that:


T (14 : 00) = 25.0 + (79.5 − 25.0) ⋅ e − k ⋅14
59.0 = 25.0 + (79.5 − 25.0) ⋅ e − k ⋅14
59.0 = 25.0 + 54.5 ⋅ e − k ⋅14
34.0
= e − k ⋅14
54.5
34.0
ln = −k ⋅ 14
54.5
− 0.47
= −k
14
k = 0.033 per minute

For the second cup of coffee (cup II), we have that:


T (14 : 00) = 25.0 + (88.0 − 25.0) ⋅ e −k ⋅14

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Physics experiment #13: Hot Coffee
Nicolai Solheim, 3IBG
Physics 3HL
62.2 = 25.0 + (88.0 − 25.0) ⋅ e − k ⋅14
62.2 = 25.0 + 63.0 ⋅ e − k ⋅14
37.2
= e − k ⋅14
63.0
37.2
ln = −k ⋅ 14
63.0
− 0.53
= −k
14
k = 0.038 per minute

If we are to compare the two different constants (k), we see that Cup
(I) where the milk was added at the very start has a smaller constant
− k = −0.033 per minute (k is negative because the coffee cools down) than
cup (II), which has a constant of − k = −0.038 per minute.
The constants should in theory be the equal, but taking into
consideration that we poured 50 ml of milk into the cups of coffee at two
different times, the change of surface area could explain the difference in the
temperature constants, as more surface results in more energy lost. We may
therefore say that less surface would reduce the loss of heat.
We could, with regard to T (t ) = Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e − k ⋅t , say that the
higher the constant – the warmer the coffee. If the constant k had been
positive, the temperature of the coffee would be increasing. If the constant k
had been 0, the temperature would be unchanged. Hence we may say that the
closer –k is to 0, the less the temperature decreases. We may easily show that
by using different values for k:
T (t ) = Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e 0.038⋅14 ⇒ Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ 1.70
T (t ) = Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e 0.033⋅14 ⇒ Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ 1.59
Increase T (t ) = Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e 0.000⋅14 ⇒ Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ 1.00 = T0
Constant
T (t ) = Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e −0.033⋅14 ⇒ Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ 0.63
Decrease
T (t ) = Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e −0.038⋅14 ⇒ Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ 0.58

We can already at this point make a conclusion with regard to the


expression T (t ) = Ta + (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e − k ⋅t . For negative constants, we may say
that the closer it comes to 0, the less the temperature decreases. And contrary;
the longer away from 0, the higher the temperature decrease will be
experienced.

Further we want to show see what is the best way to keep the coffee as
warm as possible, regarding that we either can pour milk at Ta at the very
beginning when the coffee is made or at the very end before it is consumed.
We may therefore express this in a graph where the y-axis represents
(Tt − Ta ) = (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e − k ⋅t and where the x-axis represents time (t) in minutes.

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Physics experiment #13: Hot Coffee
Nicolai Solheim, 3IBG
Physics 3HL

The data points needed for plotting a graph for cup (I) are the following:

Time Cup (I)


T(t) (T t - T a ) uncertainty
º
99,0 74,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:00:00 89,0 64,0 ± 0.5 C
add milk
º
00:00:15 79,5 54,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:00:30 77,0 52,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:01:00 76,0 51,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:01:30 75,0 50,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:02:00 74,0 49,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:02:30 73,0 48,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:03:00 72,0 47,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:03:30 71,0 46,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:04:00 70,0 45,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:04:30 69,2 44,2 ± 0.5 C
º
00:05:00 68,8 43,8 ± 0.5 C
º
00:05:30 68,0 43,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:06:00 67,2 42,2 ± 0.5 C
º
00:06:30 66,5 41,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:07:00 65,8 40,8 ± 0.5 C
º
00:07:30 65,1 40,1 ± 0.5 C
º
00:08:00 64,6 39,6 ± 0.5 C
º
00:08:30 64,0 39,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:09:00 63,5 38,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:09:30 63,0 38,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:10:00 62,5 37,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:10:30 62,0 37,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:11:00 61,5 36,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:11:30 61,1 36,1 ± 0.5 C
º
00:12:00 60,5 35,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:12:30 60,1 35,1 ± 0.5 C
º
00:13:00 59,8 34,8 ± 0.5 C
º
00:13:30 59,3 34,3 ± 0.5 C
º
00:14:00 59,0 34,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:14:30 58,6 33,6 ± 0.5 C

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Physics experiment #13: Hot Coffee
Nicolai Solheim, 3IBG
Physics 3HL

From the data points above, we are given the following graph:

By adding the expression (79.5 − 25.5) ⋅ e −0.033⋅t we get:

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Physics experiment #13: Hot Coffee
Nicolai Solheim, 3IBG
Physics 3HL

From the graphs above, we can see that the rate at which a body loses
heat is greater when the difference in temperature between the body and the
surroundings (Ta) is high.

In order to compare the two cups, we have to do the same with cup
(II). The data points needed for plotting a graph for cup (II) are the following:

Time Cup (II)


T(t) (T t - T a ) uncertainty
º
99,0 74,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:00:00 89,0 64,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:00:15 88,0 63,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:00:30 87,0 62,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:01:00 86,0 61,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:01:30 85,5 60,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:02:00 83,0 58,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:02:30 81,5 56,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:03:00 80,0 55,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:03:30 79,0 54,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:04:00 78,0 53,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:04:30 76,5 51,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:05:00 76,0 51,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:05:30 75,0 50,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:06:00 74,0 49,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:06:30 73,0 48,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:07:00 72,0 47,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:07:30 71,0 46,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:08:00 70,2 45,2 ± 0.5 C
º
00:08:30 69,5 44,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:09:00 68,8 43,8 ± 0.5 C
º
00:09:30 68,0 43,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:10:00 67,2 42,2 ± 0.5 C
º
00:10:30 66,5 41,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:11:00 66,0 41,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:11:30 65,5 40,5 ± 0.5 C
º
00:12:00 64,8 39,8 ± 0.5 C
º
00:12:30 64,0 39,0 ± 0.5 C
º
00:13:00 63,4 38,4 ± 0.5 C
º
00:13:30 62,8 37,8 ± 0.5 C
º
00:14:00 62,2 37,2 ± 0.5 C
add milk
º
00:14:30 55,5 30,5 ± 0.5 C

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Physics experiment #13: Hot Coffee
Nicolai Solheim, 3IBG
Physics 3HL
By plotting the data points, we get:

By adding the expression (89.0 − 25.5) ⋅ e −0.038⋅t we get:

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Physics experiment #13: Hot Coffee
Nicolai Solheim, 3IBG
Physics 3HL
Initial T(t) of cup II
From the graph above, we see that the temperature drop significantly
Initial T(t) of cup I when the milk is poured into the cup. We can also compare the all in one
graph.

Final T(t) of cup I

Final T(t) of cup II

Ambient temperature

As seen in the graph above, where the y-axis represents


(Tt − Ta ) = (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e − k ⋅t and where the x-axis represents time (t) in minutes,
we can see the results of the experiment. The green graph represents the cup
(I) with milk poured at t00:00, while the red graph represents the cup (II) with
the milk poured at t14:30. One detail to keep in mind is that the two graphs from
the expression (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e − k ⋅t do not take the milk into consideration.

Conclusion: From the experiment done, we have shown that the best time to add
non-heated milk in the coffee is at t00:00, Cup (I). As the graph(s) decreases
d (T )
exponentially, we can also say that ∝ (Tt − Ta ) , or that the rate at
dt
which a body loses heat is proportional to the difference in temperature
between the body and the surroundings.

There are several aspects which could be discussed in context to the


experiment done.
One could ask what significant changes the use of water as substitution
for milk had on the experiment. Would it give any significant differences?
Milk, in comparison to milk, contains fat and proteins. Could that have given
different results?

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Physics experiment #13: Hot Coffee
Nicolai Solheim, 3IBG
Physics 3HL
Another questionable aspect is the thermometers used in the
experiment. There were used old thermometers, giving both uncertainties
regarding human eye measurements and possible failures and misleading
measurements on the old thermometers. One could use modern digital
thermometers to reduce the possibilities for human mistakes, and the
measurements would probably be more correct.
An aspect is the function (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e − k ⋅t . As it do not take the milk
poured into the coffee into consideration, it is difficult to calculate the correct
constant k. When the milk is added, there is a considerable change in the
temperature taking place, making it difficult to find the exact constant. What
could be done, as k should be the same for both cups, was to have another cup
without milk with the purpose of calculating k. This would, however, make
the experiment much more complicated as we would have to take the area of
the surface into consideration. The function (T0 − Ta ) ⋅ e − k ⋅t does not take
change of surface area into consideration. As we know; when the milk is
added (50 ml) , the area of the surface becomes bigger and the heat loss
greater. We would then have to take this into consideration. In order to keep
the coffee warm, having as little surface area as possible would probably be a
good thing.

The experiment was successful, even though there probably where


some errors in the measurements. We managed to find what the best way to
keep the coffee warm, which was option I: Coffee with non-heated milk added
at t00:00. We also managed to show the exponential graph, which shows that
the rate at which a body loses heat is proportional to the difference in
temperature between the body and the surroundings. And, hence, proving
Newton’s law of cooling for this particular incident (the cooling of two cups)
which says that: “The rate at which a body loses heat is proportional to the
difference in temperature between the body and the surroundings. It is an
empirical law that is only true for substantial temperature differences if the
heat loss is by forced convection or conduction.” [Oxford Dictionary of
Physics (2006)]
We cannot be certain if this rule applies for all other incidents
regarding cooling – or heating for – unless we do further research with
different bodies in various extent and size.

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