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1-071-NewtonWatson-ModelingScenario

Author(s): Brian Winkel

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

Keywords: temperature death Newton's Law of Cooling time of death Sherlock Holmes

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Abstract

Resource Image Sherlock Holmes determines the time of death for a body found on a street in London and we need to reproduce his astute analysis

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Article Context

Resource Type
Differential Equation Type
Technique
Qualitative Analysis
Application Area
Course
Course Level
Lesson Length
Technology
Approach
Skills
Key Scientific Process Skills
Assessment Type
Pedagogical Approaches
Vision and Change Core Competencies - Ability
Principles of How People Learn

Description

It was hot for a London fall day -- 70oF. Holmes arrived at Barker Avenue Annex to find the inspector hunched over the body. ``It is important that we determine the exact time of death, sir, for in that way we may immediately determine the motive," said the inspector.

Not wishing to pursue the unpursuable non sequitur, Holmes took out his thermometer and after a few moments of discrete(!) investigation, announced, ``I say! 94.6oF. (What no metric system?) And it is presently noon."

With that he departed into the London fog, to return to the body at the same spot in one hour. After performing another investigation Holmes declared, ``93.4oF at 1 o'clock." A

nd then silence. . . . After some analysis, Holmes predicted the time of death to the minute.

How did he do it?

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Authors

Author(s): Brian Winkel

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

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