Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2011/ii/paper-3/37b/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ii Paper 3 37B Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Write and use repeated-index summation. Because every is a harmonic function,andThus , the incompressible Stokes equation. MoreoverThe antisymmetric first two terms cancel in the sum with , giving the Newtonian fluid Cauchy stress tensorFor , harmonic outside the origin,At this gives , where , so the normal velocity is zero. AlsoHence on the surface,a purely normal traction, appropriate to a shear-free sphere rather than a no-slip solid sphere. Finally rotational symmetry gives , so the fluid's force on the sphere isThis is the clean-bubble Stokes drag in the far-field velocity .
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