Question about flow rate in the source flow

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on correcting an equation related to flow rate and gradients in cylindrical coordinates. A key point raised is that the last term in the equation for dψ incorrectly includes a factor of 1/r, which alters its dimensions. The correct formulation for the differential dψ should not have this factor, as it leads to dimensional inconsistencies. The participants clarify that the gradient of ψ is a vector quantity, while dψ represents a scalar change in ψ, emphasizing the importance of maintaining consistent dimensions across the terms. The final consensus confirms the correct expression for dψ, reinforcing the need for accuracy in mathematical representations in fluid dynamics.
tracker890 Source h
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Homework Statement
Determine flow rate per unite width in the source flow
Relevant Equations
flow rate equation
Please help me to understand what wrong with method 2.
ref.Flowrate Between Streamlines
(Thank you for your time and consideration.)
1670568334521.png
 
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In the third line from the end where you have an equation for ##d\varphi##, the last term should not have a factor of ##\frac 1 r##. Note how the factor of ##\frac 1 r## makes the term have the wrong dimensions.
 
TSny said:
In the third line from the end where you have an equation for ##d\varphi ##, the last term should not have a factor of ##\frac 1 r##. Note how the factor of ##\frac 1 r## makes the term have the wrong dimensions.
But about the gradent in cylindrical coordinates is ##\nabla\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}{\textbf{e}}_r+\frac1r\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}{\textbf{e}}_\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}{\textbf{e}}_z##, so ##d\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}dr+\frac1r\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}d\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}dz##.
Is the above thinking wrong?
 
tracker890 Source h said:
But about the gradent in cylindrical coordinates is ##\nabla\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}{\textbf{e}}_r+\frac1r\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}{\textbf{e}}_\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}{\textbf{e}}_z##, so ##d\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}dr+\frac1r\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}d\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}dz##.
Is the above thinking wrong?
Isn't ##{\textbf{e}}_\theta=rd\theta##?
 
haruspex said:
Isn't ##{\textbf{e}}_\theta=rd\theta##?
Different:
##{\textbf{e}}_\theta## is vector
##rd\theta## is scalar
 
tracker890 Source h said:
Different:
##{\textbf{e}}_\theta## is vector
##rd\theta## is scalar
Yes, I forgot to make the dθ bold. But the point is you need a factor r.
 
tracker890 Source h said:
$$d\psi=\frac{\partial\psi}{\partial r}dr+\frac{\partial\psi}{\partial\theta}d\theta$$
reference as follows:
he Gradient in Polar Coordinates and other Orthogonal Coordinate Systems
Yes, for the case of constant z; so?
Compare that with what you wrote in post #3. You have a 1/r factor on the second term which should not be there. It appears in your version because you wrongly replaced eθ with dθ instead of with rdθ. Check the dimensionality of each.
 
tracker890 Source h said:
But about the gradent in cylindrical coordinates is ##\nabla\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}{\textbf{e}}_r+\frac1r\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}{\textbf{e}}_\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}{\textbf{e}}_z##, so ##d\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}dr+\frac1r\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}d\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}dz##.
Is the above thinking wrong?
-----------------
##\nabla\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}{\textbf{e}}_r+\frac1r\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}{\textbf{e}}_\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}{\textbf{e}}_z##

This equation is correct. It expresses the gradient of ##\psi##. The gradient of ##\psi## is a vector quantity. The dimensions of the gradient of ##\psi## are the dimensions of ##\psi## divided by distance. You can check that each term on the right of the equation has these dimensions.
------------------

##d\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}dr+\frac1r\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}d\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}dz##

This equation is not correct. ##d \psi## is the differential of psi. This is a scalar quantity that represents a small change in ##\psi## when the variables ##r, \theta## and ##z## are varied by ##dr##, ##d\theta##, and ##dz## respectively. The dimensions of ##d \psi## are the same as the dimensions of ##\psi##. Each term on the right side of the equation should have dimensions of ##\psi##. But the second term on the right side of your equation has dimensions of ##\psi## divided by distance (##r##).

For an arbitrary function ##f## of three variables ##u, v, w##, the differential of ##f(u, v, w)## is $$df = \frac{\partial f}{\partial u} du + \frac{\partial f}{\partial v}dv + \frac{\partial f}{\partial w}dw $$ So ##d \psi## is $$d\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}dr+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}d\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}dz$$
 
  • #10
TSny said:
-----------------
##\nabla\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}{\textbf{e}}_r+\frac1r\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}{\textbf{e}}_\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}{\textbf{e}}_z##

This equation is correct. It expresses the gradient of ##\psi##. The gradient of ##\psi## is a vector quantity. The dimensions of the gradient of ##\psi## are the dimensions of ##\psi## divided by distance. You can check that each term on the right of the equation has these dimensions.
------------------

##d\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}dr+\frac1r\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}d\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}dz##

This equation is not correct. ##d \psi## is the differential of psi. This is a scalar quantity that represents a small change in ##\psi## when the variables ##r, \theta## and ##z## are varied by ##dr##, ##d\theta##, and ##dz## respectively. The dimensions of ##d \psi## are the same as the dimensions of ##\psi##. Each term on the right side of the equation should have dimensions of ##\psi##. But the second term on the right side of your equation has dimensions of ##\psi## divided by distance (##r##).

For an arbitrary function ##f## of three variables ##u, v, w##, the differential of ##f(u, v, w)## is $$df = \frac{\partial f}{\partial u} du + \frac{\partial f}{\partial v}dv + \frac{\partial f}{\partial w}dw $$ So ##d \psi## is $$d\mathrm\psi=\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial r}dr+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial\mathrm\theta}d\theta+\frac{\partial\mathrm\psi}{\partial z}dz$$
Thank you for your clear answer, so ##d\psi## is
$$d\psi=\frac{\partial\psi}{\partial r}dr+\frac{\partial\psi}{\partial\theta}d\theta+\frac{\partial\psi}{\partial z}dz$$
$$ \because r\;and\;z=constant\;\;\;\therefore d\psi=\frac{\partial\psi}{\partial\theta}d\theta $$
 
  • #11
tracker890 Source h said:
$$d\psi=\frac{\partial\psi}{\partial r}dr+\frac{\partial\psi}{\partial\theta}d\theta+\frac{\partial\psi}{\partial z}dz$$
$$ \because r\;and\;z=constant\;\;\;\therefore d\psi=\frac{\partial\psi}{\partial\theta}d\theta $$
Yes
 
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