Boundary condition for PDE heat eqaution

In summary, the question is asking for the temperature distribution in a 10 cm bar with insulated curved sides, initially at 100 degrees Celsius. The heat flow equation is given and the initial and boundary conditions are specified. The sides are insulated, making it a one dimensional flow equation with heat flowing through the ends.
  • #1
Taylor_1989
402
14

Homework Statement


I am having an issue, not with the maths but with the boundary conditions for this question.

A bar 10 cm long with insulated sides, is initially at ##100 ^\circ##. Starting at ##t=0##
Find the temperature distribution in the bar at time t.

The heat flow equation is

$$\frac{\partial ^2u}{\partial x^2}=\frac{1}{k}\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}$$

where ##u(x,t)## is the tempreture, Because the sides of the bar are insulated, the heat flows only in the, the same happens for a slab of finite thickness but infinitely large.

The initial condition is ##u(x,0)=100## and the boundary condition for ##t>0## is ##
u
(0
,t
) =
u
(10
,t
) = 0.
##

Have read this incorectly but if the sides are insulated then surely the boundary condtions are,

##U_{x}(0,t)=U_{x}(L,t)=0##

as the heat is moving along the x direction?
 
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  • #2
Taylor_1989 said:
Have read this incorectly but if the sides are insulated then surely the boundary condtions are,

##U_{x}(0,t)=U_{x}(L,t)=0##

as the heat is moving along the x direction?
No. The sides that are insulated are the curved sides, not the ends. That is what makes it a one dimensional flow equation with the heat flowing through the ends. So those partials with respect to ##x## are not zero.
 

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