Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2021 / Paper 2 / 20 / a / Solution

For the heat equation ${\Theta }_t=\kappa {\Theta }_{xx}$, separation of variables with homogeneous Neumann boundary condition at both ends gives spatial modes $\cos (n\pi x/L)$ and decay factors $e^{-\kappa (n\pi /L{)}^{2}t}$. The $n=0$ mode is constant and does not decay.

The initial profile already contains only two such modes:Evolving each mode therefore yieldsThe endpoint derivatives vanish, and substitution checks both the equation and the initial profile. The spatial integral remains $L{T}_0/2$: no heat escapes through insulated ends, so the limiting uniform temperature is $T_0/2$.