Deriving a conservation law using the divergence theorem

In summary, material scientists have discovered a new fluid property called "radost" which is carried along with the fluid similar to mass or momentum. The conservation law for radost can be derived using the divergence theorem and involves the amount of radost per unit volume, which can be calculated by converting the given information from radost per unit mass of fluid.
  • #1
wifi
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Problem:

Material scientists have discovered a new fluid property called "radost" that is carried along with a fluid as it moves from one place to the next (just like a fluid's mass or momentum). Let ##r(x,y,z,t)## be the amount of radost/unit mass in a fluid. Let ##\rho(x,y,z,t)## be the mass density of the fluid. Let ##\vec{v}(x,y,z,t)## be the velocity vector of the fluid. Use the divergence theorem to derive a conservation law for radost.

Attempt at a Solution:

We did an example like this in class, but for conserving mass, so it was a little different. What we ended up with was the following expression [tex]\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial t}+\nabla \cdot (\rho \vec{v})=0[/tex]

We started by writing, [tex]dM=\rho dV[/tex] Thus, [tex]M=\int_V \rho dV[/tex] Then we applied the divergence theorem and that was basically it.

I'm just kind of confused how to start this one.
 
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  • #2
The density of a fluid is the amount of mass of fluid per unit volume. Here we have some radost, R, and the interesting conservation law is going to be saying something about the amount of radost per unit volume. If the function r was radost per unit volume you would literally replace the density with r in the calculations you show in your post and be done - unfortunately it's given in radost per unit mass of fluid, so you need to convert that to radost per unit volume (which can be done with the information they give you)
 
  • #3
Office_Shredder said:
The density of a fluid is the amount of mass of fluid per unit volume. Here we have some radost, R, and the interesting conservation law is going to be saying something about the amount of radost per unit volume. If the function r was radost per unit volume you would literally replace the density with r in the calculations you show in your post and be done - unfortunately it's given in radost per unit mass of fluid, so you need to convert that to radost per unit volume (which can be done with the information they give you)

Would it be ##dr=(r\rho)dV##?
 
  • #4
Like OF said, needs to be radost per unit volume.
 
  • #5
I'm sorry I'm not really sure how to do that.
 

1. What is the divergence theorem?

The divergence theorem, also known as Gauss's theorem, is a fundamental principle in vector calculus that relates the flux of a vector field through a closed surface to the divergence of that field within the enclosed volume.

2. How is the divergence theorem used in deriving conservation laws?

The divergence theorem is used to convert a volume integral of a vector field into a surface integral, making it easier to solve. This allows us to derive conservation laws, which are equations that describe the conservation of certain physical quantities, such as mass or energy, in a given system.

3. Why is the divergence theorem important in physics?

The divergence theorem is important in physics because it allows us to relate the behavior of a vector field within a volume to its behavior on the surface of that volume. This is crucial in many areas of physics, such as fluid dynamics and electromagnetism, where understanding the flow of a field is essential.

4. What are some examples of conservation laws derived using the divergence theorem?

Some examples of conservation laws derived using the divergence theorem include the continuity equation for fluid flow, the law of conservation of mass, and the Maxwell equations for electromagnetism.

5. Are there any limitations to using the divergence theorem in deriving conservation laws?

While the divergence theorem is a powerful tool, there are some limitations to its use in deriving conservation laws. For example, it assumes that the vector field is continuous and differentiable, and that the surface is smooth and closed. These assumptions may not always hold in real-world situations.

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