Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / iii / Paper 344 / 2 / c / i / Solution

For a power law $f(u)=C{u}^p$, restoring dimensions givesIndependence of mass density requires $p-1=0$. Hence viscous hydrodynamic coarsening hasAt small $u$, the capillary and viscous terms are both of order $u^{-2}$, while the convective inertial term is of order $u^{-1}$ and the acceleration of the leading linear law is zero. Thus the leading force balance is viscous resistance against capillary driving, giving $C_v=c_s/c_v=-\delta /\gamma >0$ in the signed convention of the preceding part.

Equivalently, the domain-scale Reynolds number is $\rho L\dot{L}/\eta \sim C_v^{2}u$, so inertia is negligible as $u\to 0$. “Small” here refers to time compared with $t_0$ within a late-stage hydrodynamic window: it does not extend the model through the microscopic initial stage, where diffusion or interface formation can dominate. An initial-time offset changes the intercept, not this asymptotic growth exponent.