A cylindrical copper rod of base area $\mathrm{A}$ and length $L$ is insulated on its lateral surface. One end of the rod is in contact with a wall at temperature $T_{\mathrm{H}}$. The other end is in contact with a wall at a lower temperature $T_{\mathrm{C}}$. At steady state, the rate at which energy is conducted into the rod from the hot wall is
$$
\dot{Q}_{\mathrm{H}}=\frac{\kappa \mathrm{A}\left(T_{\mathrm{H}}-T_{\mathrm{C}}\right)}{L}
$$
where $\kappa$ is the thermal conductivity of the copper rod.
(a) For the rod as the system, obtain an expression for the time rate of entropy production in terms of A, $L, T_{\mathrm{H}}, T_{\mathrm{C}}$, and $\kappa$.
(b) If $T_{\mathrm{H}}=327^{\circ} \mathrm{C}, T_{\mathrm{C}}=77^{\circ} \mathrm{C}, \kappa=0.4 \mathrm{~kW} / \mathrm{m} \cdot \mathrm{K}, \mathrm{A}=0.1$ $\mathrm{m}^{2}$, plot the heat transfer rate $\dot{Q}_{\mathrm{H}}$, in $\mathrm{kW}$, and the time rate of entropy production, in $\mathrm{kW} / \mathrm{K}$, each versus $L$ ranging from $0.01$ to $1.0 \mathrm{~m}$. Discuss.