Question

Roland is using algor mortis to determine a victim’s time of death. Assuming the victim’s body temperature was originally 98 degrees and now measures 88 degrees, how many hours have MOST likely passed since the victim died?

Answer 1

Algor mortis refers to the postmortem cooling of the body, which occurs gradually until the body reaches the temperature of its surroundings. The rate of cooling depends on various factors, such as the ambient temperature, humidity, and the body's initial temperature.

Based on the information provided in the question, we can estimate the time of death by using the following formula:

Time of death = (Body temperature when found - Normal body temperature) ÷ Cooling rate per hour + Time of death delay

The normal body temperature is typically 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), but variations can occur depending on factors such as age, health, and activity level.

The cooling rate per hour is usually assumed to be around 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit (0.83 degrees Celsius) per hour, but this can vary depending on the aforementioned factors.

The time of death delay refers to the time it takes for the body to start cooling after death. This delay can also vary depending on factors such as body size and clothing.

Assuming a normal body temperature of 98 degrees Fahrenheit and a cooling rate of 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit per hour, we can estimate that the victim died around 5 hours ago:

Time of death = (88 - 98) ÷ 1.5 + Time of death delay
Time of death = -6.67 + Time of death delay

Since a negative time of death is not possible, we can assume that the time of death delay is around 5 hours, which gives us an estimated time of death of 5 hours ago.

Answer 2

Algor mortis is the cooling of the body after death, and the rate of cooling can be used to estimate the time of death. The normal body temperature of a living person is 98.6°F (37°C), but after death, the body cools at a rate of about 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit per hour (or 0.83 degrees Celsius per hour) until it reaches the temperature of its surroundings.

If the victim's body temperature was originally 98 degrees and now measures 88 degrees, we can calculate the time of death using the following formula:

Time of death = (starting body temperature - current body temperature) / rate of cooling

Using this formula, we get:

Time of death = (98 - 88) / 1.5

Time of death = 6.67 hours (rounded to the nearest hour)

Therefore, the most likely time that has passed since the victim died is about 6-7 hours. However, it's important to note that there are many factors that can affect the rate of cooling and the accuracy of this estimation, such as the surrounding temperature, humidity, and the victim's clothing.

Step-by-step explanation: