Integration of the Stream Function & Velocity Potential

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration of the stream function and velocity potential in the context of polar coordinates. Participants seek clarification on the integration process and the inclusion of additional terms when deriving expressions for the stream function, specifically regarding the functions of integration that depend on other variables.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how the term f1(r) arises when integrating ∂Ψ/dθ = m, indicating an understanding of mθ but seeking clarity on the additional term.
  • Another participant explains that f1(r) represents a "constant" of integration that is a function of r alone, emphasizing the need to consider the function's dependence on multiple variables.
  • There is a similar inquiry about the term g1(θ) when integrating -∂Ψ/dr = 0, with a participant noting that this term also arises from the integration process with respect to r.
  • Participants discuss the implications of not knowing that Ψ is a function of both θ and r, raising questions about how to approach integration without this information.
  • One participant suggests that the context of the problem typically provides clues about the variables involved, particularly in polar coordinates.
  • Another participant notes that the presence of flows in an x-y coordinate system indicates that Ψ is likely a function of both x and y.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the reasoning behind the inclusion of additional terms in the integration process, but there is uncertainty regarding the implications of not knowing the function's dependencies beforehand. The discussion remains unresolved on how to approach such situations without prior knowledge of the variables involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the importance of context in determining the variables that functions depend on, particularly in polar coordinates. There is an implicit assumption that the problem's context will guide the understanding of variable dependencies.

influx
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767bc5.png


How did they go from ∂Ψ/dθ = m to Ψ = mθ + f1(r) ?

I mean I understand how they got mθ but can someone explain the f1(r) term?

Similarly, how did they go from -∂Ψ/dr = 0 to Ψ = c1 + g1(θ) ?

I understand how they got c1 but why the additional term?

I can't provide further working out as I think this is supposed to be pretty simple, I'm just missing something..

Thanks
 
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Moved this thread out of the HW sections. Note that if you post in the HW sections, you must include the homework template.
influx said:
767bc5.png


How did they go from ∂Ψ/dθ = m to Ψ = mθ + f1(r) ?

I mean I understand how they got mθ but can someone explain the f1(r) term?
Ψ is assumed to be a function of both θ and r, so when you integrate ∂Ψ/dθ with respect to θ, you have to include a "constant" of integration that is a function of r alone. As a check, take the partial derivative with respect to θ of the right side, and you should get what they have on the left side.
influx said:
Similarly, how did they go from -∂Ψ/dr = 0 to Ψ = c1 + g1(θ) ?

I understand how they got c1 but why the additional term?
See above, with the difference that now the integration is with respect to r.
influx said:
I can't provide further working out as I think this is supposed to be pretty simple, I'm just missing something..

Thanks
 
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Mark44 said:
Moved this thread out of the HW sections. Note that if you post in the HW sections, you must include the homework template.
Ψ is assumed to be a function of both θ and r, so when you integrate ∂Ψ/dθ with respect to θ, you have to include a "constant" of integration that is a function of r alone. As a check, take the partial derivative with respect to θ of the right side, and you should get what they have on the left side.
See above, with the difference that now the integration is with respect to r.
That makes perfect sense. One question though, in this case we know that Ψ is a function of both θ and r but what if we were not aware of this? So say we were told to integrate ∂Ψ/dθ = m without being informed that Ψ is a function of both θ and r?

Also for:

cea3a9.md.png


How do we know that Ψ is a function of both x and y?

Thanks
 
influx said:
That makes perfect sense. One question though, in this case we know that Ψ is a function of both θ and r but what if we were not aware of this? So say we were told to integrate ∂Ψ/dθ = m without being informed that Ψ is a function of both θ and r?
Since you are asked to find the partial derivative ∂Ψ/∂θ, you can be certain that Ψ is a function of θ and some other variable, most likely r, as the problem is evidently working with polar coordinates. The context of the problem will usually provide information about what variables any functions are in terms of.
influx said:
Also for:

cea3a9.md.png


How do we know that Ψ is a function of both x and y?
The fact that the flows are shown in an x-y coordinate system is a strong clue.
 
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Mark44 said:
Since you are asked to find the partial derivative ∂Ψ/∂θ, you can be certain that Ψ is a function of θ and some other variable, most likely r, as the problem is evidently working with polar coordinates. The context of the problem will usually provide information about what variables any functions are in terms of.
The fact that the flows are shown in an x-y coordinate system is a strong clue.
Thank you very much. Makes perfect sense! :)
 

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