Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-options-i-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2009/k/k2/solution

For the isolated line vortex, use polar coordinates to obtain
Thus for nonzero the streamlines are circles and their counterclockwise circulation is . If the fluid is stationary and the streamline description degenerates.
Place an opposite image vortex at . The method of images gives
On , the distances to the two vortex positions agree, so . Hence the wall is a streamline. Directly the wall velocity has and
For the stipulated steady flow, Bernoulli's equation in the irrotational fluid outside the vortex core gives
The force exerted by the fluid on this wall points in the direction for positive pressure. Relative to uniform pressure , however, its change is in the direction. Using the supplied integral, the force change per unit span is
Thus the wall is attracted towards the vortex, with this magnitude if the other side remains at . Subtracting the uniform pressure is essential for an infinite wall. A freely moving vortex would translate parallel to the wall under its image-induced velocity; the calculation here is for the stated steady vortex configuration, with its position held fixed.

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