A spherical capsule of 3-m radius is fired from a space platform in earth orbit, such that it travels toward the center of the sun at 16,000 km/s. Assume that the capsule is a lumped capacitance body with a density-specific heat product of 4 X 106 J/m3 · K and that its surface is black.
(a) Derive a differential equation for predicting the capsule temperature as a function of time. Solve this equation to obtain the temperature as a function of time in terms of capsule parameters and its initial temperature Ti.
(b) If the capsule begins its journey at 20°C, predict the position of the capsule relative to the sun at which its destruction temperature, 150°C, is reached.