At 5 A.M. a body is found in a park. The police measure the body's temperature to be 90ºF. At 6 A.M. the medical examiner arrives and determines the temperature to be 86ºF. Assuming the temperature of the park was constant at 70ºF, how long has the victim been dead? (Normal body temperature is 98.6ºF.) Round to one decimal place.
A) 1.6 hours before 6 A.M.
B) 0.7 hours before 5 A.M.
C) 1.6 hours before 5 A.M.
D) 3.7 hours before 5 A.M.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using Newton's Law of Cooling, the time since death can be calculated. The body cools from 98.6ºF to 90ºF by 5 A.M. and to 86ºF by 6 A.M. Solving the cooling equation gives approximately 1.6 hours before 5 A.M.

At 5 AM a Body Is Found in a Park