Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2026/iii/paper-329/2/b/solution

When internal pressure gradients matter, axial lubrication flow in the low-viscosity interior has volume flux
Conservation of cross-sectional area, , and the normal-stress expression for give
Let . Balancing with gives , so . Balancing either pressure contribution after two axial derivatives with then gives . Define
At fixed , , and
Substitution leaves the parameter-free third-order equation
Thus the similarity exponents are ; boundary and matching conditions would select a particular profile .

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