Reference no: EM131604601

Question: Coroners estimate time of death using the rule of thumb that a body cools about 2°F during the first hour after death and about 1°F for each additional hour. Assuming an air temperature of 68°F and a living body temperature of 98.6°F, the temperature T (t) in °F of a body at a time t hours since death is given by

T(t) = 68 + 30.6e^-kt

(a) For what value of k will the body cool by 2?F in the first hour?

(b) Using the value of k found in part (a), after how many hours will the temperature of the body be decreasing at a rate of 1°F per hour?

(c) Using the value of k found in part (a), show that, 24 hours after death, the coroner's rule of thumb gives approximately the same temperature as the formula.