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For the basic axisymmetric flow, ${\mathbf{u}}_0=\Omega R{\mathbf{e}}_{\varphi }$. The steady radial Euler equation for fluid motion gives $-{\Omega }^{2}R=-p_{0,R}/\rho$; the other components give $p_{0,z}=p_{0,\varphi }=0$. Thus, in the absence of an additional body force,The additive constant is undetermined without an imposed reference pressure; the rigid boundary does not prescribe a uniform boundary pressure. Its shape is fixed by the container rather than by a free-surface pressure condition.

Let $v_R,v_{\varphi },v_z$ be the small velocity amplitudes and $W=p_1/\rho$ the pressure amplitude. Linearizing the cylindrical Euler equations for an inviscid fluid about uniform rotation, the material derivative is ${\partial }_t+\Omega {\partial }_{\varphi }$. The intrinsic frequency for the stated phase convention is thereforeThe radial and azimuthal curvature terms supply the Coriolis acceleration terms, givingFor $s\ne 0,\pm 2\Omega$, solving these equations givesThe incompressible flow constraint isOn substitution, the terms proportional to $m\Omega W_R$ cancel. The remaining equation iswhich provesThis is the pressure equation for inertial modes in a rigid rotating sphere. The exceptional frequencies used in the divisions must instead be treated in the original momentum system; they are not needed for the mode below.

A fixed rigid sphere is impermeable, so its normal velocity vanishes:Using the solved amplitudes and multiplying by $s(s^2-4{\Omega }^2)/i$ givesEquivalently divide by ${\bar{\sigma }}^2$ for $\bar{\sigma }\ne 0$. Smoothness means tangential slip is allowed: there is no no-slip condition on these inviscid normal modes. Nor is there a condition $W=0$, since the wall supplies the required varying normal pressure.

For an axisymmetric oscillation, $m=0$ and $s=\sigma$. Write $\beta =1-4{\Omega }^2/{\sigma }^2$. For $W=z(A{R}^2+B{z}^2+C)$ the radial and vertical operators areThe interior pressure equation therefore requiresThe boundary equation becomesSubstituting $R^2=r_0^2-z^2$, this polynomial must vanish for every boundary height. Its constant and $z^2$ coefficients consequently giveTogether with the interior relation the latter condition is $(4+\beta )A=0$. A nontrivial nonsingular oscillatory solution needs $A\ne 0$: if $A=0$ and $\beta \ne 0$, the other equations force $B=C=0$. Hence $\beta =-4$, givingThe cubic axisymmetric inertial mode of a rigid sphere is explicitlyIts cubic pressure is regular at the axis and centre, and its reconstructed velocity is divergence free and tangent to the sphere by the preceding identities. The frequency lies within the inertial wave band $|\sigma |<2|\Omega |$: Coriolis acceleration, rather than compression or a moving surface, supplies the restoring dynamics. The amplitude $A$ is arbitrary in this linear problem.