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Milk first or last? The correct method for hot tea. (GONE MATHEMATICAL)

2016-08-12

[public] 284K views, 8.08K likes, 472 dislikes audio only

Listen to the hot tea episode of Domestic Science here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07m7lmr

Full data footage is over here on my second channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kZYxQpy3Ek

Stefan-Boltzmann Law

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/stefan.html

The thermometer I used was the Signstek 6802 II, the cheapest dual channel thermometer I could find. But it turns out it is only $16.99 in the USA right now:

https://www.amazon.com/Signstek-Channel-Digital-Thermometer-Thermocouple/dp/B00FFYEPVQ/ref=sr_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&tag=stanupmath-21

Whereas I paid £14.29 in the UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Signstek-Channel-Digital-Thermometer-Thermocouple/dp/B00HA22XEC?_encoding=UTF8&tag=stanupmath-20

If you’re in the market for one, I have a second-hand only-slightly-tea-stained one available.

CORRECTIONS:

- According to comments, it seems no one else in the world puts milk in their tea.

- Several people have pointed out that there was not an equal amount of hot water in each mug which would affect cooling rates (the first of which was HueBearSong, who also seemed to be the most disinterested). Is that enough of a difference to justify me doing it again? Comment below!

- As pointed out by user HYEOL, the teaspoon was cold going in to T2 but hot when going in to T1. Which yes, would make a difference. Turns out science is hard.

Music by Howard Carter

Design by Simon Wright

MATT PARKER: Stand-up Mathematician

Website: http://standupmaths.com/

Maths book: http://makeanddo4D.com/

Nerdy maths toys: http://mathsgear.co.uk/