cooled

Cooled is the past participle of cool and is used as an adjective or verb to describe something whose temperature has been reduced. In physics and engineering, cooling refers to the removal of thermal energy from a body or system, typically through heat transfer to a surrounding reservoir. The rate of cooling depends on the temperature difference between the object and its surroundings, the object's heat capacity, and the effectiveness of heat transfer pathways. Models range from simple approximations like Newton’s law of cooling to more complex heat transfer equations that account for conduction, convection, radiation, and phase-change processes such as evaporation.

Common methods of cooling include conduction through solid supports, convection by fluids, and radiation to cooler surroundings. Phase-change cooling, such as melting or vaporization, can absorb large amounts of energy at relatively constant temperatures and is widely used in refrigeration and air conditioning.

Applications span everyday life and industry. Domestic refrigeration, freezers, and beverage cooling rely on engineered cooling cycles. In industry, cooling is essential for metalworking (quenching and heat treating), manufacturing electronics, and maintaining process temperatures. In scientific and medical contexts, cooling enables cryogenics to reach ultra-low temperatures, preserved biological samples, and therapeutic hypothermia to limit tissue damage during certain medical events.

Design and safety considerations include minimizing unwanted heat loads, selecting appropriate insulations and coolants, and managing risks associated with cryogenic liquids, such as cold burns or asphyxiation. Objects described as cooled have typically moved toward a lower, more stable temperature appropriate to their intended use.