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The Stokes equation is linear in velocity, pressure, body force, and boundary data. Solutions may therefore be superposed, and rigid-body velocities depend linearly on applied forces and torques.

The Papkovich–Neuber representation writes a homogeneous incompressible Stokes flow in terms of a harmonic vector field $\mathbf{\Phi }$ and harmonic scalar $\chi$:with ${\nabla }^2\mathbf{\Phi }=0$ and ${\nabla }^2\chi =0$. The representation satisfies incompressibility because ${\nabla }^2(\mathbf{x}\cdot \mathbf{\Phi })=2\nabla \cdot \mathbf{\Phi }$, and substitution then verifies the Stokes equation.

For a sphere translating with constant vector velocity $\mathbf{U}$, rotational covariance and decay at infinity suggest a harmonic vector monopole and scalar dipole:Substitution gives the translating sphere in Stokes flowAt $r=a$ the radial tensor terms cancel and $\mathbf{u}=\mathbf{U}$, while $\mathbf{u}\to 0$ as $r\to \infty$, so the no-slip boundary condition and far-field condition hold. The resulting traction integrates to the Stokes drag law $6\pi \mu a\mathbf{U}$ in magnitude.

Let $z$ measure distance across the narrow gap and let $\theta$ be polar angle about the tube axis. In lubrication theory, radial velocity and radial pressure variation are negligible. Axisymmetric incompressible flow is obtained frombecause ${\partial }_{\theta }(u_{\theta }\sin \theta )=0$. The tangential Stokes equation then separates:and hence, after choosing an irrelevant pressure constant,

In the sphere frame, $u_z=-u_{\theta }\sin \theta =-\varphi$. The no-slip boundary condition gives $\varphi (0)=0$ on the sphere and $\varphi (\delta )=U$ on the membrane translating backward relative to it. The sphere-frame volume flux inherited from the narrow remote tube is $-\pi r_0^{2}U$, soUnder the asymptotic condition $r_0^2\ll R\delta$, the right-hand side is negligible at leading order. Solving the quadratic profile subject to the two wall values and zero leading-order integral givesChanging the chosen positive tube direction reverses both signs but leaves the drag magnitude unchanged.

The pressure scale is $p\sim \mu UR/{\delta }^2$, whereas the viscous shear scale is $\tau \sim \mu U/\delta$. After multiplication by comparable areas, pressure drag exceeds shear drag by $R/\delta \gg 1$, an instance of lubrication pressure dominates shear stress. Put $c=\cos \Delta \theta$. The axial pressure force isAs $\Delta \theta \to 0$, the bracket tends to $-2$, and thereforeThe resulting confined-sphere drag coefficient isThus it exceeds the free Stokes drag law coefficient by $2R^2/{\delta }^2$. The Stokes–Einstein relation then gives