Final answer:
Algor mortis, the postmortem cooling of the body, is the correct term when assessing loss of heat by taking the decedent's temperature to estimate the time of death. This process is influenced by body size and environmental conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is A) Algor mortis. It refers to the postmortem cooling of the body, allowing forensic experts to estimate the time of death by measuring the body temperature at the crime scene. The other terms listed are related to other postmortem changes: B) Rigor mortis is the stiffening of a body after death due to muscle contraction, C) Livor mortis is the settling of blood within the lower portions of the body, and D) Putrefaction is the process of decay or rotting in a body. It's important to note that the rate of algor mortis can be affected by environmental conditions and the size of the organism, with body size affecting heat retention and loss. However, it is a misconception that larger organisms lose heat at a faster rate because they have a greater surface area for their mass. In fact, smaller organisms lose heat at a faster rate than larger organisms because they have a larger surface area relative to their mass.