Past exam of the year 2 of the earth sciences (geology) course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / Paper 1 / 10 / b / ii / Solution

For $T_n=A\cos (k_{n}x)e^{-\kappa k_n^{2}t}$, direct differentiation again gives ${\partial }_t{T}_n=-\kappa k_n^2{T}_n$ and ${\partial }_x^2{T}_n=-k_n^2{T}_n$. Thus it satisfies the heat equation. Moreover,vanishes at both endpoints for integer $n$, proving the homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. Now $n=0$ gives the nonzero constant mode $T=A$, which does not decay. It represents conserved mean temperature in an insulated plate.