On the Mass Diffusivity of Chocolate-Stuffed Candy Spheroids

and Saliva
A mathematical inquiry into a timeless issue

By Drew Chibib and Joe Williams

 As with most inquiries into the quantification of physical reality, we must begin with gross
simplifications. However, once the candy is assumed to be a perfect sphere of uniform density, our
investigation can begin.
Consider the above mentioned sphere, before being invariably slobbered and
dissolved, with an initial mass m 0 , initial radius r 0 , and a uniform density

. Intuitively, it is obvious that the rate at which the mass of the candy is
dissolved is proportional to the surface area that is exposed to the solventin this
case, saliva. If we assume that the rate at which a unit of surface area is dissolved is
constant (this follows from our assumption of uniform density), we can use
empirical data to find this value and insert it into the modified Noyes-Whitney
dissolution rate equation as a proportionality constant.
dm
=c A (m)
dt

Another equation that is essential in our analysis of dissolution rate is the volume and surface area as a
function of mass. Because we know that the volume and surface area varies with the radius by
4 3
V ( r )= r
3

A ( r )=4 r 2

We can express this as a function of mass as

4
V ( m) = r (m)3
3

A ( m )=4 r (m)2

m
Also, given that = r (m) :
V , we can solve for

m
=
4
r (m)3
3

3m
r (m)3=
4

r (m)=

3 3m
4
Inserting this value into A ( m ) , we can obtain a simple first order differential equation for m(t) :

2 /3
dm 3m
dt
=c 4
4 ( )

Through a swift separation of variables, we obtain

2/ 3
dm 3
m2 /3
=c 4
4 ( ) dt

With that out of the way, we can now replace the cumbersome amalgamation of constants on the right with a
fancy Greek letter and integrate both sides.
m t

mdm2/ 3 = dt
m0 0

3 m1/3 3 m01 /3 =t

1/ 3 1/ 3
m =3 m 0 t

3
t
m= m0( 1/ 3

3 )
Now, using the previously derived equation for the radius as a function of mass, r ( m ) , and a little bit of

courage, we can insert m(t) to find r ( t ) .

r (m)=

3 3m
4

1 3

r ( t ) =r ( m ( t ) )=

3 3 m ( t )
4 r (t )=
( 3
3 3 m0
t
3 )
4

(
r ( t ) = m01 /3
t
3 ) 3 3
4

2/ 3
3 3
1 /3 c 4 ( )
3

r (t )=

3 3
m
4 0
4
3
4
t

Unfortunately, we arent done. In order to use this equation to our advantage, we must rearrange it so that,
when given a value for the radius (the distance to the scrumptious tootsie-rolled center), we can solve for the
requisite time that satisfies the parameters weve set with laborious amounts of algebraic manipulation. By
solving the above equation for time, we obtain
1 /3

t=
3 r 3 ( 3
m
4 0 )
2 /3
c4
3
4 ( )

3 3
4

Now, given the empirical data listed below, we can mindlessly plug and chug and answer the age old
question: How long does one have to continuously suck on a tootsie pop before reaching the succulent
chocolate center?
c (mass transfer rate per surface area): .00626 cm2/sec
(density): 1.7619 g/cm3
r (radius measured from edge of candy to sweet succulent savory center): 0.57
m0 (initial mass of tootsie pop): 18.5 g

t=
(
3 0.57

3 3
4 1.7619
18.5
1 /3
)
2 /3
.00626 4 ( 3
4 1.769 )

3 3
4 1.7619

While this atrocious, abominable, and grotesque mountain of calculation that stands before us does look fun,
well delegate this task to Wolfram Alpha, and obtain a final answer of
t=517.288 seconds

So, if one is planning on sucking continuously until reaching a deliciously chewy nirvana, they must, on
average, suck for roughly 8 minutes and 36 seconds.