Final answer:
After death, the body loses heat at a rate of about 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit (0.83 degrees Celsius) per hour in a room temperature environment. This drop in body temperature is referred to as postmortem cooling or algor mortis.
Step-by-step explanation:
After death, the rate of body heat loss depends on various factors such as the environmental temperature, clothing, and body size. Generally, body heat is lost at a rate of about 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit (0.83 degrees Celsius) per hour in a room temperature environment. This drop in body temperature is referred to as postmortem cooling or algor mortis.
For example, let's say the body temperature at the time of death is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), and the room temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). In this case, it would take approximately 5 hours for the body temperature to drop by 1 degree Celsius.
It's important to note that these figures are estimates and may vary depending on individual circumstances and other factors.