Enter the mass, specific heat capacity, initial temperature, final temperature, heat transfer coefficient, and surface area into the calculator to determine the cooling time.

Cooling Time Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the cooling time. 

Tc = (m * c * (Ti - Tf)) / hA

Variables:

  • Tc is the cooling time (s)
  • m is the mass of the object or substance (kg)
  • c is the specific heat capacity of the substance (J/kg°C)
  • Ti is the initial temperature (°C)
  • Tf is the final temperature (°C)
  • h is the heat transfer coefficient (W/m²°C)
  • A is the surface area of the object or substance (m²)

To calculate the cooling time, subtract the final temperature from the initial temperature and multiply the result by the mass of the object or substance and its specific heat capacity. Then, divide this result by the product of the heat transfer coefficient and the surface area of the object or substance.

What is a Cooling Time?

Cooling time refers to the period required for an object or substance to decrease in temperature to a desired level. This term is often used in various fields such as physics, engineering, and cooking. The duration of the cooling time can depend on several factors including the initial temperature, the desired final temperature, the properties of the substance, and the cooling method used.

How to Calculate Cooling Time?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Cooling Time using the given formula:

  1. First, gather the values of the variables: mass (m), specific heat capacity (c), initial temperature (Ti), final temperature (Tf), heat transfer coefficient (h), and surface area (A).
  2. Next, substitute the values of the variables into the formula: Tc = (m * c * (Ti – Tf)) / (h * A).
  3. Finally, calculate the Cooling Time (Tc) using the formula.
  4. After inserting the values and calculating the result, check your answer for accuracy.

Example Problem:

Use the following values as an example problem to test your knowledge:

mass (m) = 2 kg

specific heat capacity (c) = 500 J/kg°C

initial temperature (Ti) = 50°C

final temperature (Tf) = 20°C

heat transfer coefficient (h) = 100 W/m²°C

surface area (A) = 5 m²