Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2026/ii/paper-1/39c/solution

Boundary-layer theory assumes steady incompressible high-Reynolds-number flow, , weak streamwise viscous diffusion, nearly constant pressure across the layer, and outer pressure gradient .
For ,
At the normal velocity vanishes; along the upper wall . Boundary-layer scaling gives
Set . The Falkner-Skan equation becomes
so , , , with
and . Finally
requires ; thus and the tip region violates the approximation.

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