Approximately how much does the body temperature drop per hour during algor mortis?

• A. 0.5°F per hour
• B. 1.5°F per hour
• C. 3.0°F per hour
• D. 2.0°F per hour

Answer: (B)

Algor mortis is the cooling of the body after death toward the surrounding environment. In the early postmortem period, the body typically loses heat at about 1.5°F per hour. This rate reflects heat transfer from the body to the surroundings through conduction, convection, and radiation. As the body’s temperature approaches ambient temperature, the cooling rate slows and becomes more variable depending on factors like room conditions, clothing, and body size. So, 1.5°F per hour is the standard approximate rate used for the initial cooling, with faster or slower cooling not uncommon as conditions change.