Two cups of hot tea at temperatures T1(t) and T2(t) cool in a room at ambient constant temperature T∞. Initially T1(0)=T2(0)=T0>T∞.
Cup 1 has cool milk added instantaneously at t=1; in contrast, cup 2 has cool milk added at a constant rate for 1⩽t⩽2. Briefly explain the use of the differential equations
dtdT1=−a(T1−T∞)−δ(t−1)dtdT2=−a(T2−T∞)−H(t−1)+H(t−2)
where δ(t) and H(t) are the Dirac delta and Heaviside functions respectively, and a is a positive constant.
(i) Show that for 0⩽t<1
T1(t)=T2(t)=T∞+(T0−T∞)e−at
(ii) Determine the jump (discontinuity) condition for T1 at t=1 and hence find T1(t) for t>1.
(iii) Using continuity of T2(t) at t=1 show that for 1<t<2
T2(t)=T∞−a1+e−at(T0−T∞+a1ea)
(iv) Compute T2(t) for t>2 and show that for t>2
T1(t)−T2(t)=(a1ea−1−a1)e(1−t)a
(v) Find the time t∗, after t=1, at which T1=T2.