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For a cylinder of radius $R_c$ in unbounded two-dimensional incompressible potential flow, a velocity potential is $\phi =u(r+R_c^2/r)\cos \theta$. It givesOn the surface $v_r=0$. The points nearest the banks are the sides perpendicular to the stream, $\theta =\pi /2,3\pi /2$, hence the speed is $2u$ at each. This is the inviscid outer-flow speed; a real no-slip boundary layer has zero velocity at the material surface. The small-radius/wide-river assumption neglects bank effects.

For potential flow, each velocity potential satisfies Laplace's equation in its fluid. The exact kinematic boundary condition on $y=\eta$ is ${\eta }_t+{\varphi }_{j,x}{\eta }_x={\varphi }_{j,y}$. Keeping only first-order terms givesThe linearized Bernoulli equation is $p_j=p_0-{\rho }_j({\varphi }_{j,t}+g\eta )$ at the interface, so pressure continuity givesFor a decaying disturbance away from the interface, put $\psi =kx-\omega t$ and takeThey satisfy Laplace's equation and the kinematic boundary conditions for $\eta =A\cos \psi$. Substituting in the dynamic condition gives the dispersion relationIf the heavier fluid is on top, ${\omega }^2<0$. Instead of oscillation, a Fourier disturbance has an exponentially growing component with growth rate $\sqrt{gk({\rho }_2-{\rho }_1)/({\rho }_1+{\rho }_2)}$. This is the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in the absence of surface tension.

A potential dipole in three dimensions is the potential flow $\mathbf{u}=\nabla \varphi$ with $\varphi =\mathbf{d}\cdot \mathbf{x}/r^3$. Away from the origin its potential is a harmonic function, so it is also a constant-pressure Stokes flow. Its velocity decays as $r^{-3}$ and its vorticity is zero. It is distinct from a stresslet, whose leading velocity decays as $r^{-2}$.

In radial potential flow outside a spherical bubble, incompressibility and the moving-boundary condition give $u_r=R^2\dot{R}/r^2$ and $\varphi =-R^2\dot{R}/r$. The Unsteady Bernoulli equation, with its gauge fixed at infinity, yields the displayed radius equation when surface tension and viscosity are neglected. Pressure continuity at the interface identifies the liquid pressure with the gas pressure $p_g$. The vacuum special case is Rayleigh collapse of a spherical cavity.

A small-disturbance, two-dimensional potential flow model for a thin airfoil, using surface tangency and smooth flow departure at its trailing edge to determine circulation. Its lift coefficient slope is $2\pi$ per radian, with camber shifting the zero-lift angle of attack. See airfoil for assumptions, examples and the aerodynamic stall limit.

A point injection of volume at rate $Q$ produces the displayed radial potential flow in three dimensions. Its velocity potential is $-Q/(4\pi r)$, and every enclosing sphere has outward volume flux $Q$. The divergence vanishes away from the source and is $Q$ times the three-dimensional Dirac delta distribution at it. The field is also a Stokes flow with constant pressure away from its singularity.

A two-dimensional potential doublet is a localized potential flow singularity with complex potential of a two-dimensional potential flow $W=M/(z-b)$, where $M=m{e}^{i\alpha }$ specifies strength and orientation. It is the limiting field of an equal point source and sink as their separation tends to zero with strength times separation fixed, with the sign absorbed in $M$. Its complex velocity is $-M/(z-b{)}^2$, so the velocity decays as inverse distance squared. The total volumetric flow rate around the singularity is zero. Its two-dimensional decay differs from that of the three-dimensional source dipole.