T (t) = Te +T0e^kt t = time T(t) = temperature at time of death Te = Temperature
ID: 284975 • Letter: T
Question
T (t) = Te +T0e^kt
t = time
T(t) = temperature at time of death
Te = Temperature of the environment (in °F)
T0 = Starting temperature of the object (i.e., normal body temperature)
k = -0.011 per minute
Imagine a woman was walking down the street on a cold day and she had a heart attack and died. When the police discovered the body later that day at 8PM, her body temperature had dropped from 98.6°F to 36°F. The environmental air temperature was 6°F. What time did she die from the heart attack? Show all of your work!
Explanation / Answer
T (t) = Te +T0e^kt
t = time
T(t) = temperature at time of death
Te = Temperature of the environment (in °F) =6F
T0 = Starting temperature of the object (normal body temperature)=98.6F
k = -0.011 per minute
Generally after the heart stops beating, the body suddenly starts turning cold. Each hour, the body temperature decreases about(1.5degreeC) 34.7 degrees Fahrenheit until it reaches room temperature.
So Hours since death= 98.6-36/34.7 =2hours at 8PM.
So time of death=8-2=6PM
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