Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

Published by Addison-Wesley
ISBN 10: 0321909100
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-910-7

Chapter 16 - Think and Discuss - Page 319: 92

Answer

Add cream right away.

Work Step by Step

By adding the cream right away, you immediately lower the temperature difference between the coffee and the room. By Newton’s law of cooling, this lowers the rate of cooling. Also, the white coffee radiates less than black coffee does. Both arguments state that by adding cream first, the coffee won't lose as much energy before you are ready to drink it.
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