If a piece of metal is heated to temperature θ and then allowed to cool in a room which is at temperature θ0 the graph between the temperature T of the metal and time t will be closest to :
(A)(see structure)
(B)(see structure)✓ Correct
(C)(see structure)
(D)(see structure)
Answer: (B)
Solution
Newton's law of cooling makes the rate of fall proportional to how far the body sits above the room, dtdT∝−(T−θ0), whose solution is the exponential approach T=θ0+(θ−θ0)e−kt. The temperature slides down steeply at first, while the gap is large, then eases off and flattens towards θ0 without ever crossing it. The matching graph is the concave exponential decay settling onto the room temperature.
JEE Main · 2013 · 07 Apr 2013 · Offline · Single correct option