The temperature of a cold drink in a room with constant temperature \(22\,{}^\circ\text{C}\) is modeled by \(T(t)=22-14e^{-0.1t}\), where \(t\) is measured in minutes and \(T(t)\) is measured in degrees Celsius.
1. Find \(T(0)\) and \(T'(0)\). Interpret both values in context.
2. Find \(T'(10)\) and the temperature difference \(22-T(10)\). Compare these two quantities.
3. Verify that \(T'(t)=0.1(22-T(t))\) for all \(t\ge0\), and interpret the constant \(0.1\) with units.
Hints
- Differentiate the exponential term carefully and keep track of the time units.
- Compare the derivative with the difference between room temperature and drink temperature at the same instant.
- In a relation of the form rate = constant times quantity, the constant must supply the reciprocal-time unit.
Solution
1. \(T(0)=22-14=8\,{}^\circ\text{C}\). Differentiating gives \(T'(t)=1.4e^{-0.1t}\), so \(T'(0)=1.4\,{}^\circ\text{C}/\text{min}\). The drink starts at \(8\,{}^\circ\text{C}\) and is warming at \(1.4\,{}^\circ\text{C}\) per minute initially.
2. \(T'(10)=1.4e^{-1}\approx0.515\,{}^\circ\text{C}/\text{min}\). Also, \(22-T(10)=14e^{-1}\approx5.150\,{}^\circ\text{C}\). The warming rate is one tenth of the temperature gap at that instant.
3. Since \(22-T(t)=14e^{-0.1t}\), \(0.1(22-T(t))=1.4e^{-0.1t}=T'(t)\). The constant \(0.1\,\text{min}^{-1}\) means the instantaneous warming rate equals \(10\%\) of the current temperature gap per minute.
Answer
1. \(T(0)=8\,{}^\circ\text{C}\) and \(T'(0)=1.4\,{}^\circ\text{C}/\text{min}\). The drink starts at \(8\,{}^\circ\text{C}\) and is initially warming at \(1.4\,{}^\circ\text{C}\) per minute.
2. \(T'(10)\approx0.515\,{}^\circ\text{C}/\text{min}\) and \(22-T(10)\approx5.150\,{}^\circ\text{C}\); the rate is one tenth of the temperature gap.
3. \(T'(t)=0.1(22-T(t))\). The proportionality constant is \(0.1\,\text{min}^{-1}\).