Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2009/iii/paper-74/2/a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2009 iii Paper 74 2 a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
One normalization of the Papkovich–Neuber representation uses a harmonic vector and harmonic scalar :These formulae give because , and give . Rescaling the potentials gives the other common normalizations of the representation.
A point force requires a decaying, rotationally covariant field linear in , with no length scale. Thus choose the harmonic monopole , , for . Differentiating givesThe Newtonian fluid stress tensor is , which simplifies to . Its traction resultant on a sphere, using an outward normal from the origin, is . Momentum balance with the force therefore fixes . The resulting Stokeslet isAn arbitrary constant pressure may be added. The stress has purely radial traction on concentric spheres, and its integrated traction supplies the required distributional point-force normalization.
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