What typically happens to the body temperature after death?

After death, the body undergoes a process known as algor mortis, which refers to the cooling of the body. This occurs because the body no longer produces heat due to metabolic processes ceasing, and it begins to lose heat to the surrounding environment. Typically, the body temperature decreases at a rate of about 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit per hour, although this can vary depending on factors such as the environment and clothing.

Understanding this process is essential in forensic science because it can help establish the time of death, which is a critical element in criminal investigations. The other options do not align with biological processes post-mortem; for instance, the body cannot maintain a constant temperature after death due to the cessation of metabolic activity, nor can it increase or effectively fluctuate in temperature as it cools down steadily.