Forced-plume virtual-origin geometry 2026-10-05
For a horizontal forced plume, the plume virtual origin lies downstream and below the physical source on the far-field vertical asymptote. The origin shift in centreline arc length is distinct from its vertical height: if and , the virtual height is . Both geometric shifts scale with the jet length at fixed entrainment coefficient.
Inclined forced plume 2026-10-05
An inclined forced plume curves upward under buoyancy. In a stationary homogeneous ambient, its horizontal momentum flux is conserved and its vertical momentum flux increases. For kinematic plume fluxes, and , where and the derivative is with respect to centreline arc length.
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.