Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 iii Paper 78 1 Solution 2026-10-14
Use the Newtonian fluid stress tensor , where . The Stokes equations for a point force on the fluid are and . Put . Away from the origin, a harmonic vector potential proportional to in the Unscaled Papkovich–Neuber representation gives the rotationally covariant decaying solution. Specifically, take and . Differentiation yieldsThis satisfies the homogeneous Stokes equations for . Its stress isTo verify the point-force normalization, on a sphere the traction is . Since , its surface integral is . Thus integrating momentum balance over the small ball gives exactly the applied force , fixing the normalization of the Stokeslet. Its radial velocity is , soThere is no net volume or mass source at the singularity. The kernels have the parity and .
For two Stokes flows with the same viscosity and body forces , the Lorentz reciprocal theorem including body forces isIndeed, apply the divergence theorem to . The cross-gradient terms cancel: incompressibility removes each pressure contraction and the remaining terms are both . The two stress divergences give the body-force terms shown.
Choose flow 1 to be the desired body-force-free field and flow 2 to be a Stokeslet with arbitrary force vector at . For , the body-force term is . Rearrange the reciprocal identity and use the parity of ; equality for every givesFor outside the volume there is no point force in , so the same two integrals sum to zero. To obtain the smooth boundary value, exclude a small hemisphere about , use continuity of to replace it by on that hemisphere, and take the radius to zero. A full small sphere contributes ; a hemisphere contributes half of it. Equivalently, the local solid-angle factor is . The result is the boundary integral representation of Stokes flow with right side on a smooth boundary, and with the double layer interpreted by its boundary principal value. A nonsmooth corner would have a different solid-angle coefficient.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 iii Paper 78 3 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The material derivative follows surfactant carried by the moving interface. The term is dilution or concentration by tangential area expansion or contraction. The term is the additional area change produced by normal motion of a curved interface. The term represents surface diffusion, while relaxes the concentration towards a reservoir value through exchange. All these terms refer to concentration per surface area, as in surfactant transport with exchange relaxation.
In the steady bubble frame, the spherical interface has . Write with uniform and regard both and as first order in the rising speed. Advection of and its product with surface dilation are second order. Hence the linear steady equation isSpherical symmetry and linearity leave only the tangential projection of the imposed translation vector: . An azimuthal term would change sign under reflection and is excluded for this non-chiral rising bubble. The degree-one forcing does not excite other spherical-harmonic degrees in the linear problem.
On , differentiating givesEach component of is a degree-one spherical harmonic, soOne may also obtain the coefficient from : its surface Laplacian gives , while rotational symmetry makes the vector Laplacian parallel to . Expanding then yieldsThe candidate therefore solves the linear transport equation ifIts spherical mean is zero. This is the dipolar surfactant distribution. Assuming , its consistency condition isDiffusion or exchange must restore uniform concentration faster than the interfacial flow redistributes it: this holds with a small surface Péclet number, fast exchange, or sufficiently immobilized surface velocity. These same conditions justify neglecting the perturbation's advection. Small capillary number and sufficiently small buoyancy-induced shape distortion are separate requirements for a spherical interface.
Take to mean the outer liquid, the bubble interior and outward from the bubble. The general interfacial stress balance with variable surface tension isFor , its tangential part is . Thus the requested form isThis positive parameter measures the strength of the restoring Marangoni stress relative to viscous stress, including the relaxation of concentration by diffusion and exchange.
The far velocity is produced by the constant harmonic vector potential . The two independent decaying degree-one modes are the force-carrying vector potential and the scalar dipole . They are harmonic outside the bubble and have precisely the symmetry of uniform translation. The Unscaled Papkovich–Neuber representation gives, at arbitrary radius,The velocity at agrees with the printed expression. However, the original PDF's traction formula has a factor-of-two error. Direct differentiation with givesnot the printed prefactor . This is traction of translating-sphere Papkovich–Neuber potentials. The term follows immediately from the Stokeslet stress, and the scalar-potential part gives ; neither contribution contains the extra factor two.
With this consistent traction, no penetration requires , tangential velocity requires , and tangential stress balance requires . Solving,For comparison, taking the printed literally would instead giveThose solve the supplied algebraic pair but not the Newtonian stress calculated from the supplied potentials. The factor-six result is the physically consistent translating surfactant-coated bubble solution.
As , and : the clean bubble has a mobile interface and zero tangential traction. As , , and : the interface becomes immobilized and the exterior flow approaches that past a no-slip rigid sphere. The limiting tangential traction is , a useful check on the correct normalization.
The normal dynamic traction isapart from an arbitrary constant pressure. In the normal stress balance on a translating bubble, its degree-one part is balanced by the buoyant hydrostatic pressure difference and by the variation of normal capillary stress. A uniform internal gas pressure balances the constant Laplace-pressure term but cannot by itself balance this angular variation. If is upwards and is liquid minus bubble mass density, the degree-one balance can be writtenIt fixes , tending to the clean-bubble and rigid-sphere rise speeds. A degree-one radial displacement translates a sphere rather than changing its curvature, so a supposed dipolar shape distortion cannot replace this force balance.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 iii Paper 78 4 iii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Let , and use local distance from the closest pole. The gap isHorizontal rotation has nonzero wall speed at this pole. In the broad region with , shear is , the area is and the lever arm is . Its torque is therefore . The smallest gap patch has radius and area ; its shear is . It gives the same bounded torque scale.
These are the two estimates requested in the paper. They omit an intermediate annulus, so the printed uniform assertion is not correct as . For , . An annular shear-torque contribution scales asIntegrating between the inner and outer scales produces .
A viscous dissipation lower bound makes this conclusion independent of possible signs of local tractions. A fluid velocity changing by between two no-slip walls dissipates at least per unit area, by the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality in the cross-gap coordinate. The lubrication velocity profile gives more explicitlywith no cross term. The second term is nonnegative. Thus the annulus entails a logarithmic divergence in total power and hence in , since the centre is held fixed and all boundary work is .
The horizontal rotation in a nearly touching spherical shell calculation also gives the corrected force scale. Choose local along and put with its signed value. At leading order the stationary-gap Reynolds lubrication equation isFor it has the particular pressurewhich satisfies the equation by direct differentiation. The pressure itself gives no torque about the centre of an exactly spherical inner body, because its normal is radial. It does contribute to tangential shear through the pressure gradient.
For any fixed local outer cutoff, the logarithmically divergent integrals areThe resisting tangential traction is . Integration by parts gives torque magnitude to logarithmic order. Consequently, at leading order in ,The strict corrected order is ; the paper's scale is the bounded contribution of each of its two nominated regions, not the full asymptotic answer.
For the horizontal force, pressure dominates shear by a factor . Its horizontal projection on the inner sphere has normal component , giving . Hence the required holding-force magnitude isThe broad region and smallest patch each supply ; the intermediate annulus again supplies the extra logarithm. The shear force is smaller by . These expressions assume the completely filled lubrication film of the problem.
The vertical holding force is zero. The geometry is invariant under a half-turn about the vertical axis. That operation reverses the horizontal angular velocity but leaves a vertical force component unchanged. Linearity would reverse that force component too, forcing it to vanish. Equivalently, the induced pressure has the first azimuthal harmonic, whose vertical-force integral over azimuth is zero. The horizontal holding force is the negative of the fluid's horizontal force on the body.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 iii Paper 78 4 ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Axisymmetric rotation about the offset axis gives wall velocity . Its azimuthal Couette flow has no pressure-driving divergence, so pressure remains constant. The fluid-on-inner-sphere tangential traction is . Multiply it by the moment arm and integrate:Putting and using the second supplied identity with its generic parameter equal to gives the axial rotational resistance of eccentric nested spheres:The continuous limit at is , consistent with a concentric narrow spherical shell. At , the torque tends to : it remains finite because the rotational wall speed vanishes at the closest pole.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 iii Paper 78 4 i Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Set , positive downwards. Then . The leading axisymmetric lubrication flux is . Wall Couette flux from the translating sphere is smaller by than the squeeze flux and does not affect this leading pressure. The spherical Reynolds lubrication equation isRegularity at the pole gives , soThe apparent singularity at is a constant-pressure gauge term: subtract before taking the limit. The remaining pressure tends to .
To leading lubrication order the force is the pressure integral. Its downward component on the inner sphere isThe original PDF's first integration hint is incorrect: the rational term needs , not . From the antiderivative ,Thus the squeeze resistance of eccentric nested spheres givesIt opposes the velocity for either sign of . The continuous concentric limit is , since the bracket is . As , its leading magnitude is .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 iii Paper 78 4 Solution 2026-10-14
Let the tangential velocity scale be , gap scale and along-gap length . The tangential Stokes equation balances with , while wall shear is . ThereforeThis is lubrication pressure dominates shear stress; pressure force projections may nevertheless be small in a particular direction or may give no torque on a spherical surface.
Write the signed centre displacement along the downward axis as . A point on the inner sphere has distance from the outer centre. The leading normal gap to radius is consequentlyThe local-curvature corrections are smaller by . This approximation also follows by solving the outer-sphere intersection along the ray from the inner centre and expanding its positive root.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 iii Paper 83 1 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Let denote isotropic permeability of a porous medium, the fluid dynamic viscosity, the reference fluid mass density, its volumetric thermal-expansion coefficient and gravitational acceleration. The Boussinesq approximation uses only in the gravitational force. With upward coordinate , hydraulic pressure and Darcy flux , the equations arewhere is the perturbation to the conductive temperature. To keep porous heat-capacity conventions explicit, let be effective heat capacity per bulk volume, the liquid volumetric heat capacity, effective thermal conductivity, , and . The thermal equation is . If the usual unit-capacity convention is adopted, and is the thermal diffusivity. Thresholds below do not depend on ; it only changes temporal rates.
For a conductive state with upward temperature decrease , linearization giveswhere . The second equation follows by taking the divergence of Darcy law to eliminate and then differentiating its vertical component. It is important that the Laplacian on its right is horizontal.
In the horizontal layer, both boundary planes prescribe the temperature and are impermeable, so at . Use a normal mode proportional to , with horizontal wavenumber , . Writing , the momentum relation gives , and the thermal relation givesA neutral mode therefore requires . Since , the smallest value is , attained at and . This derives the onset of convection in a horizontal Darcy layer rather than simply importing its critical number. ThusEvery small disturbance decays for ; at equality the critical roll is neutral. Strict decay has this threshold as a supremum, not an attained maximum. The first roll wavelength is , compatible with the very large horizontal extent. Cooling from above gives the opposite, stable buoyancy feedback.
For the tall square column, define as its side length and as its height. The insulated vertical walls impose , while impermeability imposes zero normal Darcy flux. Away from the remote ends, a nearly height-independent mode has hydrostatic pressure adjustment and , with zero cross-sectional mean. The transverse temperature modes arewhere but is excluded: a closed column cannot support a net vertical discharge. Its horizontally uniform density perturbation is balanced by pressure, rather than driving overturning. The rate of a nonconstant mode isThe smallest allowed eigenvalue is , so the insulated square-column Darcy convection onset isAgain strict decay requires . This is the leading long-column result. End conditions that maintain the basic gradient require the vertical velocity to turn around near the ends and give small finite-height corrections; their exact coefficient cannot be inferred from insulation of the vertical walls alone. For a separated vertical mode of small wavenumber , the neutral expression is , which tends to the displayed value as .
Just above threshold, warm fluid rises along one side and colder fluid sinks along the opposite side, with horizontal return flow at the top and bottom. The two lowest modes, proportional to and , have the same threshold. A square therefore admits either orientation or a superposition, including diagonal overturning. Linear theory predicts the weak columnar circulation and its degeneracy; it does not select a unique nonlinear planform.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 iii Paper 83 2 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Use constant porosity , isotropic rock permeability of a porous medium , common liquid dynamic viscosity and gravitational acceleration . Treat the two liquids as separated by a sharp interface, with negligible capillary pressure, molecular mixing, ambient-current resistance and inertia. At distances beyond the initial source scale the current is shallow relative to its horizontal length, so its pressure is hydrostatic. The initial release is symmetric about and has actual liquid volume per unit length of source. Consequently its geometric thickness integral is , not .
Below the interface the excess pressure relative to the ambient hydrostatic field is , so Darcy law gives horizontal discharge . The vertically integrated discharge is . Take the specified downward leakage to mean Darcy flux per bulk horizontal area. Mass conservation then givesIf is instead defined as interstitial seepage speed, the actual leakage discharge is and the corresponding coefficient is . Stating the velocity convention removes that otherwise ambiguous porosity factor. For a shale of thickness and permeability , a simple hydrostatic leakage model has , if the reservoir below it has the same ambient pressure reference and no capillary entry threshold.
Let be the half-width of the support; the full end-to-end length will be . Appropriate conditions are symmetry , , no flux beyond the support, and the moving-front condition . Initially converges weakly to , expressing the concentrated line release. The equations describe the spreading porous gravity current, not the singular immediate release itself.
With , conserved volume and balance of against give width proportional to and height proportional to . Write , . Substitution givesIntegrating from the symmetry axis gives . Inside the support , so and . Thus the compact Barenblatt solution isThe positive-part notation makes outside the current. Volume fixes its remaining constant:If “length” denotes the distance from the source to one front, it is rather than ; both conventions are given explicitly. Differentiating gives , so the front condition holds. Using on each reflecting half-line gives the same normalization.
For positive leakage define actual retained volume . Since the edge thickness and boundary flux vanish, integration of the equation yieldsPut , where . Because , substitution cancels the leakage term and leaves . This derives the exponential drainage transform for porous-medium diffusion. Its conserved geometric volume is still , soThe full length is again . In particular,At early times , recovering impermeable-bed spreading. At late times, drainage reduces the current thickness and therefore its hydrostatic driving pressure; the effective spreading time saturates at . The current approaches a finite horizontal reach while its retained volume and thickness vanish exponentially. This does not mean a positive-volume pool remains at a finite final depth. For small positive the length scale diverges as , consistently with unbounded spreading when leakage is absent.