In an experiment to verify Newton's law of cooling, the temperature of hot water in a calorimeter

T/oC
is plotted against time t/min. Which of the following is true about the graph?
a. the graph is linear and parallel to the T-axis
b. the slope of the graph is positive
c. the slope of the graph is negative
d. the graph is hyperbola

Hi don't look like their awake yet. What time is it where you are?

The slope of the Graph will be Negative

To determine which statement is true about the graph in the experiment to verify Newton's law of cooling, we need to understand the law and how it relates to the experiment.

Newton's law of cooling states that the rate of heat loss of an object is directly proportional to the difference in temperature between the object and its surroundings. In the context of this experiment, the hot water in the calorimeter is cooling down due to thermal energy transfer with its surroundings.

Now let's analyze the options provided:

a. The graph is linear and parallel to the T-axis.
This option suggests that the graph is a straight line parallel to the T-axis. However, according to Newton's law of cooling, the temperature of the object should gradually decrease over time, not stay constant. So this option is incorrect.

b. The slope of the graph is positive.
If the slope of the graph is positive, it means that the temperature is increasing over time, which contradicts Newton's law of cooling. Therefore, this option is also incorrect.

c. The slope of the graph is negative.
This option suggests that the graph has a negative slope. According to Newton's law of cooling, the temperature should decrease over time. Therefore, this option is the correct answer. The slope of the graph should be negative.

d. The graph is a hyperbola.
A hyperbola is a type of curve described by a quadratic equation, characterized by branches that open away from each other. In the context of this experiment, a hyperbolic graph does not align with Newton's law of cooling, which predicts a gradual decrease in temperature. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

In conclusion, the correct answer is: c. The slope of the graph is negative.