Particle pushing by a freezing front ($V=A/(36\pi \mu ad)$)

A planar freezing front can push a spherical particle steadily when repulsive sphere-plane dispersion force balances lubrication resistance. The thin parabolic gap gives hydraulic drag $6\pi \mu V{a}^2/d$, and balancing it against $Aa/(6d^2)$ gives the displayed speed. This balance assumes a nonretarded interaction, small gap and negligible inertial and other particle forces.

For a sphere partially below a planar melting isotherm, write $c=\cos {\theta }_0$ and depth $a(\cos \theta -c)$. Local premelting gives film thickness $d^3=K/(\cos \theta -c)$. Conservation in the thin spherical film gives flux $Va\sin \theta /2$ and pressure $p=3\mu V{a}^2(\cos \theta -c{)}^2/K$. Integrating vertical repulsive and hydraulic stresses over the wetted cap yields the displayed speed. The unknown thermodynamic constant $K$ cancels, but a narrow rim where the film ceases to be thin is excluded from the leading approximation.