· H2 Mathematics — Ten-Year Series, worked ← All 12 questions

2019 A-Level · Paper 1 · Question 11

2019 H2 Maths Paper 1, Question 11

Differential equations 13 marks Newton's law of cooling
Download Paper 1 solutions (PDF)

Part (i)(a)

6 marks

Let θ\theta be the temperature of the water, in ∘C^{\circ}C, tt minutes after it is placed in the room. Since the rate of decrease of θ\theta is proportional to the difference between θ\theta and the room temperature 16 ∘C16\,{}^{\circ}C,

dθdt=−k(θ−16),\frac{d\theta}{dt} = - k(\theta - 16),

where kk is a positive constant.

Since the water is cooling towards 16 ∘C16\,{}^{\circ}C from above, θ>16\theta > 16 throughout, so θ−16>0\theta - 16 > 0. Separating variables,

∫1θ−16 dθ=∫−k dt\int\frac{1}{\theta - 16}\, d\theta = \int - k\, dt
ln⁡(θ−16)=−kt+C.\ln(\theta - 16) = - kt + C.

So

θ−16=e−kt+C\theta - 16 = e^{- kt + C}
=Ae−kt,= Ae^{- kt},

where A=eCA = e^{C}.

Using the initial condition θ=80\theta = 80 when t=0t = 0,

80−16=Ae080 - 16 = Ae^{0}
A=64.A = 64.

So θ=16+64e−kt\theta = 16 + 64e^{- kt}. Using the given condition θ=32\theta = 32 when t=30t = 30,

32−16=64e−30k32 - 16 = 64e^{- 30k}
e−30k=14e^{- 30k} = \frac{1}{4}
−30k=ln⁡14- 30k = \ln\frac{1}{4}
k=ln⁡430=ln⁡215.k = \frac{\ln 4}{30} = \frac{\ln 2}{15}.

∴\therefore

θ=16+64e−ln⁡215t\theta = 16 + 64e^{- \frac{\ln 2}{15}t}

as an exact function of tt.

Part (i)(b)

1 mark
θ(45)=16+64e−ln⁡215(45)\theta(45) = 16 + 64e^{- \frac{\ln 2}{15}(45)}
=16+64e−3ln⁡2= 16 + 64e^{- 3\ln 2}
=16+64(2−3)= 16 + 64\left( 2^{- 3} \right)
=16+8= 16 + 8
=24.= 24.

∴\therefore the temperature of the water after 4545 minutes is 24 ∘C24\,{}^{\circ}C.

Part (ii)

6 marks

Approach

“Rate of change of thickness inversely proportional to thickness” gives dTdt=cT\frac{dT}{dt} = \frac{c}{T}. This is separable, and T=0T = 0 at t=0t = 0 pins down the constant of integration exactly (no logarithm is involved, since the variable being integrated is TT itself, not T−constantT - \text{constant}).

Let TT cm be the thickness of the ice tt minutes after freezing commences. Since the rate of change of TT is inversely proportional to TT,

dTdt=cT,\frac{dT}{dt} = \frac{c}{T},

where cc is a positive constant. Separating variables,

∫T dT=∫c dt\int T\, dT = \int c\, dt
T22=ct+D.\frac{T^{2}}{2} = ct + D.

Using T=0T = 0 when t=0t = 0,

0=c(0)+D0 = c(0) + D
D=0.D = 0.

So T2=2ctT^{2} = 2ct. Using the given condition T=1T = 1 when t=60t = 60,

1=2c(60)1 = 2c(60)
c=1120.c = \frac{1}{120}.

So

T2=t60,T^{2} = \frac{t}{60},

and since T≥0T \geq 0,

T=t60.T = \sqrt{\frac{t}{60}}.

The ice is safe to skate on once T=3T = 3:

3=t603 = \sqrt{\frac{t}{60}}
9=t609 = \frac{t}{60}
t=540.t = 540.
To check your answer: T(60)2=60/60=1T(60)^{2} = 60/60 = 1, matching the given data point, and T(540)=540/60=9=3T(540) = \sqrt{540/60} = \sqrt{9} = 3. ✓

∴\therefore the ice is first safe to skate on 540540 minutes (i.e. 99 hours) after freezing commences.

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