Mar 15, 2026
Thermal Behavior of Hot Water in a Coffee Mug Over Time
- Luis Antonio Tenantitla Sanchez1
- 1Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores Monterrey
Protocol Citation: Luis Antonio Tenantitla Sanchez 2026. Thermal Behavior of Hot Water in a Coffee Mug Over Time. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.3byl4p1n8lo5/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: March 13, 2026
Last Modified: March 15, 2026
Protocol Integer ID: 313265
Keywords: Temperature, Hot water, Measures, thermal behavior of hot water, coffee mug over time, temperature of hot water, thermal behavior, coffee mug, temperature of the water, hot water, mug, coffee mug in order, temperature, changing temperature, ambient temperature, experiment
Abstract
This protocol describes an experiment designed to measure the temperature of hot water in a coffee mug in order to observe how it gradually approaches ambient temperature. By the end of the experiment, you will have collected enough measurements to compare and analyze the changing temperature of the water inside the mug.
Guidelines
- Follow the procedure in the order presented to ensure consistent and reproducible results.
- Verify that all equipment is functioning properly before beginning the experiment.
- Maintain a clean and organized workspace to avoid accidental spills or measurement errors.
Materials
- Coffee mug
- Water heater / Electric kettle
- Water (500 mL)
- Submersible digital temperature sensor
Troubleshooting
Safety warnings
- Handle hot water with caution to prevent burns. Use heat‑resistant gloves if necessary.
- Ensure the mug is made of a material suitable for high temperatures to avoid cracking or thermal shock.
- Keep electrical devices, including the water heater and digital temperature sensor, away from water sources to prevent electrical hazards.
- Do not touch the heating element of the water heater immediately after use.
Ethics statement
- All measurements should be recorded honestly and without alteration.
- Any unexpected results or anomalies should be documented rather than omitted
- Follow institutional guidelines for safe laboratory conduct and responsible data handling.
Before start
- Record the ambient temperature before heating the water, as it will be used for comparison during analysis.
- Ensure the mug is at room temperature prior to pouring the hot water to avoid altering the cooling curve.
- Have a timer or stopwatch ready to maintain consistent 60‑second measurement intervals.
Preparation
5m
Ensure all required materials are readily available.
Place the coffee mug on a stable, solid surface
1m
Have the Submersible Digital Temperature Sensor ready for use once the hot water is poured into the mug.
1m
Record the ambient temperature.
3m
Heating the Water
7m
Pour the water into the water heater/electric kettle.
Begin heating the water.
2m
Wait until the water reaches the desired high temperature.
5m
Transferring Hot Water to the Mug
6m
Once the water has reached a high temperature, carefully pour it into the mug until full.
1m
Turn on the Submersible Digital Temperature Sensor.
30s
Submerge the sensor in the mug.
15s
Monitor the temperature until it reaches the predetermined initial temperature for starting the measurements.
4m
Temperature Measurements
1h 1m 10s
Once the thermometer displays the defined initial temperature for the experiment, record the first temperature measurement
10s
After 60 seconds have passed since the first measurement, record a second measurement.
1m
Continue recording a new temperature measurement every 60 seconds until completing a total duration of 1 hour.
1h