Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2015 / Prelims / Mathematics V resit / Question 4 / c / Solution

For separation of variables, put $U=X(x)H(t)$ and set $X^{\prime \prime }/X=H^{\prime }/(\kappa H)=-\lambda$. The boundary conditions are $X(0)=0$, $X^{\prime }(L)=0$. Multiplying $-X^{\prime \prime }=\lambda X$ by $X$ and using integration by parts givesA nonzero solution therefore has $\lambda >0$: the zero case forces $X$ constant, and then $X(0)=0$ forces $X=0$. Writing $\lambda ={\mu }^2$, the eigenfunctions and their temporal factors areThese sine functions are orthogonal on $[0,L]$, with squared norm $L/2$. Expanding the initial condition and multiplying by $\sin ({\mu }_{m}x)$ gives, using the permitted interchange of the sum and integral,Here $\cos ({\mu }_{n}L)=0$ and $\sin ({\mu }_{n}L)=(-1{)}^n$. Thus the Fourier series solution isThe exponential decay permits differentiation of the series for $t>0$, and each term satisfies both boundary conditions. At $t=0$ it is the mixed-end Fourier expansion of $-T_{0}x/L$.

The gained heat is the increase in internal energy. Since the paper specifies no cross-sectional area, first give the answer per unit cross-sectional area; multiply by $A$ for a rod of cross-sectional area $A$. The initial temperature has integral $T_{0}L/2$, whereas ${\int }_0^L\sin ({\mu }_{n}x)dx=1/{\mu }_n$. At $t_{\ast }=L^2/\kappa$ this givesNumerically $\Delta Q/A\simeq 0.45623855\rho c{T}_{0}L$. This is positive and less than the eventual gain $\rho c{T}_{0}L/2$, as expected from relaxation towards the uniform steady state.