Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2025 / iii / Paper 329 / 2 / a / Solution

Let $z$ increase downward. The slender viscous thread is locally in uniaxial extension. The transverse stress equals the ambient pressure, so the Trouton ratio gives the excess axial stress ${\sigma }_{zz}+p_e=3\mu w_z$. Mass conservation and axial force balance therefore give

In steady flow $Aw=Q$. Dividing the momentum equation by $A=Q/w$ givesWith $w=\hat{w}W$ and $z=\hat{z}Z$, chooseThe dimensionless equation becomesTreating $(W^{\prime }{)}^2$ as a function of $W$ and using an integrating factor yieldsBecause $A=Q/(\hat{w}W)$, the area sketches are the reciprocals of the functions $W$ found below. The dimensional vertical deviatoric stress is