Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 345 2 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-20
Use a two-sided top-hat line plume with full width , upward speed , and reduced gravity uniform across the plume. Fluxes are measured per unit span along the line source: the volume flux is , the kinematic momentum flux is , and the buoyancy flux is . If the inward edge speed is , where is the entrainment coefficient, the two exposed edges giveThese are the volume conservation, momentum conservation, and buoyancy flux balances for a Boussinesq approximation plume in an unstratified ambient. Entrained ambient fluid supplies neither vertical momentum nor reference buoyancy.
A pure plume has no persistent source length scale. Since a line-source has dimensions , dimensional analysis gives constant , , and . Substituting constant into and the momentum balance determines the coefficients:Thus and when width is full width and velocity and buoyancy have top-hat profiles. If width means half-width, instead. Other prescribed profile shapes change these numerical factors; the linear growth laws remain the same. The point-source in Question 1 has different dimensions, so its law must not be used here.
Let be local contaminant concentration and let be horizontally integrated plume concentration. Its conserved amount per unit span is . The dilute contaminant is a passive scalar; the maintained plume is unaffected by its impulsive release. A one-dimensional effective transport closure takes the integrated scalar flux to beThe constant advective speed and the eddy diffusivity scaling follow from the line-plume scales. The entrainment coefficient alone does not determine the scalar dispersion coefficient: this Fickian closure for the integrated variable is an additional modelling assumption. Mass conservation then gives the displayed transport equation in the PDF. With this effective closure and advective speed chosen as , ; if , then , with independent dimensionless mixing coefficient .
There is a second possible closure convention. If one instead applies local diffusive flux to horizontally averaged plume concentration , its integrated diffusive flux is . For , the total scalar flux is then . The same printed equation is obtained with , rather than . Thus the printed and should be regarded as effective coefficients unless the averaging and closure conventions are specified; no equality between and the velocity prefactor is universal.
Assume , , an initial impulse at the origin, no further contaminant input, and zero endpoint scalar flux for . For a similarity solution, putSubstituting into the advection-diffusion equation givesDecay at infinity makes the integrated constant zero. Hence , and normalization with the gamma function gives . The resulting gamma impulse solution for linearly increasing diffusivity isIts integral over is . Its flux is , which vanishes at both endpoints for . The scale shrinks to zero as , so the normalized solution has weak convergence of probability measures to the required unit source impulse. The mass at the boundary is a full unit impulse on the half-line, not half of a whole-line impulse.
For the integrated quantity, , and consequentlyThis verifies the printed location for horizontally integrated plume concentration. It is a maximum because the derivative changes from positive to negative there. The normalized profile is a gamma distribution with shape : its expected value is and its variance is , so neither the mean position nor the spread should be mistaken for the modal position.
The PDF changes from “integral” to “averaged” concentration in its final request. A genuine horizontally averaged plume concentration divides by the growing width , and is thereforeIt is normalized by , not by . When , its interior maximum isWhen it decreases from a finite boundary supremum; when it is singular at the ideal point source and has no positive interior maximum. A finite source regularizes that singularity. Thus the final printed maximum is correct for the integrated variable , or for an “average” using a fixed reference width, but is not generally the maximum of the local mean . Both quantities have been given rather than silently identifying them. If , the smooth similarity formula is replaced by the advected impulse ; positive eddy diffusivity is essential to the gamma profile.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 ib Paper 2 7D Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
Write . The vertical component of the balance gives hydrostatic pressure,Its horizontal gradient is . The horizontal balance is consequentlyThus : the velocity is tangent to every level set of , so those contours are streamlines of the geostrophic flow.
Across a vertical section joining the contours and , an element of horizontal distance normal to the contours is , while . The volumetric flow rate is thereforeFor dimensional analysis, , and , so the result has dimension , exactly that of a volume flux.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 314 2 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
The dimensions of the injected power and ambient mass density are and . Requiring to have the dimensions of length givesThus dimensional analysis gives the adiabatic superbubble similarity solutionThe dimensionless coefficient can depend on and the specified inner structure, but dimensions alone cannot determine it. Constant power differs from a fixed-energy explosion because the energy available at time is proportional to . This scaling assumes that ambient pressure, gravity, radiative losses and the finite injection radius introduce no relevant competing scale.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 345 3 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Put and under the literal mass convention. Their dimensions are and . Dimensional analysis givesThe jet length compares source momentum with buoyancy. The region near the source behaves as a turbulent round jet; sufficiently far away, the forced plume behaves like a pure plume. With the constant entrainment coefficient retained explicitly, substantial turning occurs over a length of order , where . Statements involving or normally hold this dimensionless coefficient fixed.
Near the point source, and the Batchelor entrainment hypothesis gives . ThereforeIntegrating the centreline tangent givesTo leading order the centreline is a straight turbulent round jet at its source inclination. For the horizontal source, the first curvature is the horizontal forced-plume trajectoryFor a vertical source, , the trajectory stays vertical rather than developing this cubic transverse displacement. If , there is no finite buoyancy-induced jet length and the turbulent round jet remains straight.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ia Paper 4 11A b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
Write and . The constant electric force gives momentumCombining with the relativistic energy-momentum relation givesThe dimensional analysis from part (a) confirms that has the dimensions of momentum, so is dimensionless and the expression has the dimensions of velocity.
The speed increases monotonically from zero and approaches the speed of light asymptotically:Integrating in the direction of the field givesAt small times, the Taylor expansion of the square root gives the nonrelativistic limitwhich is motion from rest with the constant acceleration .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 345 3 c i Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Let as above. A self-similar starting plume has no source length or time scale; dimensional analysis therefore givesThe dimensionless constants depend on the entrainment coefficient and thermal closure. Thus is constant because the underlying Boussinesq point-source plume has . The steadily increasing thermal volume scales as , even though its reduced gravity decreases.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 iii Paper 321 2 e Solution 2026-09-28
The specific angular momentum of a circular Keplerian orbit is . Therefore the disk angular momentum iswhereThe absence of an external or inner-boundary torque makes , and hence , constant.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 iii Paper 329 1 Solution 2026-09-29
In a cross-section normal to the cylinder axes, measure from the line of contact. The two circular boundaries have the parabolic approximationfor their separation. The contact point of the meniscus is at , so the leading cross-sectional area isThe area of the small meniscus cap is and is lower order. At its upper end the gap has width . A tangent semicircle therefore has radius and curvature
The Young–Laplace equation makes the liquid pressure, relative to the nearly uniform gas pressure,At a fixed , lubrication theory gives a planar Poiseuille flow through a gap of width , with axial flux per unit Integrating across the cusp,The continuity equation now gives
Set . Since , this is the porous medium equationConservation of the fixed volumeand dimensional analysis give the self-similar solution . One integration of the resulting ordinary differential equation yields the compactly supported Barenblatt solutionEquivalently,Its tip is . Usingin the volume constraint gives . Therefore
For vertical cylinders at equilibrium, hydrostatic pressure gives . Balancing this with the capillary pressure gives the large-height profile
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 iii Paper 329 1 c i Solution 2026-09-28
The Linearity of Stokes flow makes every velocity linear in . The only available isotropic polar vector built from the axial vector and separation vector is . Dimensional analysis then givesAn angular velocity is axial, so the two independent isotropic possibilities are and . Hencefor dimensionless scalar functions .
In the midplane, the vacuum magnetic dipole field has scale , while the result of part i gives . Ampère's law then gives the induced-field estimatewhere numerical factors are immaterial in this dimensional analysis. Thus atThis is the light cylinder radius: rigid corotation would have . The nonrelativistic approximation and the assumed unmodified vacuum field therefore fail at the same scale, and a self-consistent pulsar magnetosphere must replace them.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 332 3 c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Use the dimensional analysisand define the dimensionless sliding parameterThe dimensionless flux and steady conservation law areOn the right half-cap, let the snowline be and the nose be . The zero-flux condition at the ice divide gives in the accumulation region. Continuity of gives in the ablation region, and zero nose flux gives
The dimensions of mass density, time and energy are , and . Matching powers in the proposed dimensional analysis givesThusThis is the Sedov-Taylor blast wave scaling for a fixed released energy. Dimensional analysis cannot determine the dimensionless ; that requires the fluid equations and thermodynamic assumptions. The assumed list of controlling parameters excludes, for example, an independent ambient sound speed or a continuing energy supply.
In SI base dimensions,Equating current, time, mass and length powers respectively yieldsThusDimensional analysis cannot determine the dimensionless proportionality constant.
Use and . Equating mass, length and time exponents giveshenceDimensional analysis leaves undetermined. If positive denotes flow along increasing , the signed pressure derivative is negative and its minus sign belongs in the proportionality constant; alternatively use the pressure-drop magnitude.
The dimensions are , and . Equating exponents in yieldsThus the model has . Its common dimensionless factor cancels in the ratio:They are nearly equal within this capillary-wave model. The assumed power law omits gravitational restoring forces and finite-depth effects; dimensional analysis cannot establish those omissions for an arbitrary real surface wave.
For a flexible uniform string with linear mass density and tension , dimensional analysis gives and hence . The small-slope force balance fixes the factor to one:Here has units kg/m, not the volume-density units used for a bulk fluid. The phase moves along the string at , while a material point moves transversely with . Its maximum speed is , which is not the phase velocity. Small slope makes in this model.
The kinetic energy and extra elastic energy of a segment areThe second expression follows from extra length against the pre-existing constant tension. Time averaging a harmonic wave gives and . Therefore
At the driven endpoint the string pulls along its local tangent into , with vertical component for small slope. The point exerts the opposite force on the string, so the driven-string endpoint power isFor the outgoing wave , at the derivatives are and . Thus andThe energy flux of a transverse string wave follows by combining the energy density and flux , which satisfy . For a pure right-going nondispersive wave, even instantaneously. energy is transported with the wave; a material string element merely oscillates about its unperturbed position.
Write the proposed Jeans mass as , with dimensionless . The dimensions of speed, the gravitational constant and pressure areEquating the exponents of mass, length and time givesThus , and , so the pressure-confined Jeans mass scales asA larger speed of sound gives stronger support against gravitational collapse; stronger confinement at fixed speed of sound lowers the characteristic unstable mass. Dimensional analysis determines the scaling, not , which requires a particular cloud model and instability criterion.
Use distinct symbols for the dimensions of mass, length, time, temperature and amount of substance. The molar gas constant has dimensions , while the given is a molar mass with dimensions . Matching dimensions in the proposed power law giveswith the amount-of-substance equation repeating . ThereforeDimensional analysis fixes these exponents but not a dimensionless multiplier. For example, an open-tube mode number and the gas's heat-capacity ratio enter the actual resonance frequency without changing the dimensions.
Use dimensions for mass, length and time. The reduced Planck constant, gravitational constant and speed of light have dimensionsFor to have the dimensions of a length, dimensional analysis requiresThe first equation gives ; the third gives . Substitution in the second gives . HenceWith , and , the Planck length isThe proposed monomial fixes the dimensionless prefactor to one; dimensional analysis on its own cannot select an arbitrary dimensionless multiplier.