Past exam of the advanced fluid dynamics course of the University of Oxford / 2025 / 2 / d / Solution

Hold the two-sphere object fixed in a uniform stream $\mathbf{V}$. In the free-draining approximation, its drag forces are ${\mathbf{f}}_i={\zeta }_i\mathbf{V}$, with ${\zeta }_i=6\pi \mu a_i$. The hydrodynamic torque about ${\mathbf{r}}_c$ isTo make it zero for every incoming-stream direction, choose the hydrodynamic centre of a two-sphere dumbbell:It lies closer to the larger sphere, whose larger drag requires a shorter lever arm. Uniform translation does not spin an isolated sphere, so no additional isolated-sphere spin torque enters this leading approximation.

Finite-separation hydrodynamic interactions and connector drag can change the displayed location; the calculation has the same approximation as part c.