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Take $z$ positive downwards. The leading axial velocity of a slender viscous thread is independent of radius. Incompressible flow then gives $u_r=-r{w}^{\prime }/2$, while steady mass conservation gives $(a^{2}w{)}^{\prime }=0$. The Newtonian fluid stress tensor has ${\sigma }_{rr}=-p-\mu w^{\prime }$ and ${\sigma }_{zz}=-p+2\mu w^{\prime }$. The Young–Laplace equation, neglecting axial curvature at slender order, gives ${\sigma }_{rr}=-p_e-\gamma /a$ and hence $p=p_e+\gamma /a-\mu w^{\prime }$.

The axial cut transmits both the integrated Newtonian fluid stress tensor and the circumferential surface tension. After subtracting the ambient pressure, its tensile force isThe coefficient three is the Trouton ratio for axial extension. The last term is essential: the capillary tensile force of a slender thread is $\pi \gamma a$, not $2\pi \gamma a$, because the capillary pressure subtracts half the interfacial line contribution. Axial force balance is $T^{\prime }+\pi \rho g{a}^2=0$. Together the governing equations areDefine the dimensionless variablesThen $a=a_0{W}^{-1/2}$ and the axial equation becomesFor the increasing power-law branch, all three terms have the same dependence when $\alpha =2$. Substitution leaves $1-6k^2-\Gamma k=0$. ThusThis remains valid at $\Gamma =0$, when $k=1/\sqrt{6}$. The other root is negative and describes a decreasing local branch up to its singular endpoint, not a thread accelerating downwards indefinitely. Positive surface tension decreases $k$, so it slows the fall at a given height on this branch. Thinning reduces the capillary tensile force $\pi \gamma a$. Its negative axial derivative supplies an upward capillary force on a thread segment, balancing part of the weight. The viscous tensile force therefore supplies a smaller remaining balance; on the quadratic family this reduces the stretching rate.

The condition $W(0)=1$ alone does not select a unique solution of this second-order ordinary differential equation. The boxed power law is the requested verified branch, with tensile force tending to zero at large height; an additional nozzle tension or downstream condition is required to select it physically. The slender, negligible-inertia approximation must remain valid over the height range considered.