Solving z(r) Equation with Boundary Conditions

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
4 replies · 3K views
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
1,433
Reaction score
7
I am looking for the general solutions of this equation in [tex]z(r)[/tex]
If someone remembers well, this equation arises in surface tension physics.

[tex]z(r)=\frac{1}{r}\frac{d}{dr}\left[\frac{z_r r}{(1+z_r^2)^{1/2}}\right][/tex]

subject to the boundary conditions

[tex]z_r(0)=z_{ro}[/tex] and
[tex]z(\infty)=0[/tex]

I only come up with rough approximations expanding the RHS around r=0, but I don't realize how might a closed solution be obtained.

Any hints?

Thanx.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What is the relationship between z(r) and zr(r)?

i.e. is the equation -
[tex]z_r(r)=\frac{1}{r}\frac{d}{dr}\left[\frac{z_r r}{(1+z_r^2)^{1/2}}\right][/tex] ?
 
Clausius2 said:
I am looking for the general solutions of this equation in [tex]z(r)[/tex]
If someone remembers well, this equation arises in surface tension physics.

[tex]z(r)=\frac{1}{r}\frac{d}{dr}\left[\frac{z_r r}{(1+z_r^2)^{1/2}}\right][/tex]

subject to the boundary conditions

[tex]z_r(0)=z_{ro}[/tex] and
[tex]z(\infty)=0[/tex]

I only come up with rough approximations expanding the RHS around r=0, but I don't realize how might a closed solution be obtained.

Any hints?

Sorry Astro, [tex]z_r=dz/dr[/tex] as in usual notation. The original equation is the right one. I am trying to solve the equation of the surface of a thin film of water over an sphere. In fact if one tries the change of variable [tex]\phi=z_r/\sqrt{z_r^2+1}[/tex] the equation is reduced to [tex]\phi'+\phi/r=2\sqrt{1-\phi^2}[/tex], but again I don't find a way of how to solve this.
 
Clausius2 said:
Sorry Astro, [tex]z_r=dz/dr[/tex] as in usual notation. The original equation is the right one. I am trying to solve the equation of the surface of a thin film of water over an sphere. In fact if one tries the change of variable [tex]\phi=z_r/\sqrt{z_r^2+1}[/tex] the equation is reduced to [tex]\phi'+\phi/r=2\sqrt{1-\phi^2}[/tex], but again I don't find a way of how to solve this.

My last change of variable is wrong, and the resulting equation too. I've just realized of that.
 
Well, I thought struck me, I'm sure it's dumb:
If you set [itex]z_{r}=Sinh(u(r))[/itex] and differentiate your equation, you get:
[tex]Sinh(u)=\frac{d}{dr}\frac{1}{r}\frac{d}{dr}(rTanh(u))[/tex]
Perhaps you can solve for u(r) now, but I have to admit I doubt it..
 
Last edited: