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Modeling Scenario

1-061-PotatoCooling-ModelingScenario

Author(s): Brian Winkel

SIMIODE - Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations

Keywords: least sum of square errors Newton's Law of Cooling cooling potato

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Abstract

Resource Image We model the cooling of a baked potato and compare it to student-collected data.

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Description

Several years ago a group of students wanted to determine the time of death and wrote, ``An experiment in estimating the time of death was performed where a potato was used instead of a human body. The time of death for the potato was considered to be the time it was taken out of the oven.The temperature of the potato at the time of `death' was 194oF. Temperature readings of the potato were taken every fifteen minutes for three hours. The ambient temperature was 75.2oF.''

Model this cooling process and using your model determine the time at which the potato reaches body temperature which is 98.6oF. Comment on whether or not this is a reasonable length of time for this to happen.

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Authors

Author(s): Brian Winkel

SIMIODE - Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations

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