Final answer:
The decrease in coffee level in a cup upon cooling is mainly due to escaping air bubbles rather than thermal contraction. Calculations can be made to estimate the volume change due to temperature change. This principle is an application of thermal physics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question provided touches on the concepts of thermal contraction and heat transfer within the context of a coffee cooling down in a cup. To understand if the decrease in the coffee level is due to thermal contraction, we can calculate the volume change that would result from the coffee cooling from 95.0°C to 45.0°C. For instance, the thermal expansion coefficient for water can be used to estimate this change. However, most of the decrease in level can be attributed to escaping bubbles of air rather than thermal effects. Meanwhile, in the context of making coffee using a coffee maker, measuring the water and coffee amounts is essential for achieving the desired taste, just as measuring vital signs is important for assessing health in a medical context.