Vorticity where angular velocity is function of r

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the velocity field and vorticity distribution for three cases of angular velocity \Omega(r) with no axial velocity. The user questions the validity of the provided velocity components, suggesting a contradiction in the assumption that both x and y components can be equal. They proceed to derive the vorticity in cylindrical coordinates, assuming u_r = 0 and focusing on the angular component u_{\theta} = r * \Omega(r). The calculations yield specific vorticity results for each case, but the user remains uncertain about the correctness of their approach. The response indicates that the book's solution may be flawed, as it misrepresents the dimensions of velocity components.
catboy
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
I am given, in each of three cases, an angular velocity \Omega(r) and am told to assume no axial (z) velocity i.e., u_z = 0. I am asked to

(1) find the velocity field in cartesian coordinates
(2) find the vorticity distribution in threee cases.

(1) As setup, the problem asks me to "Show the velocity components are given by (u_x,u_y,u_z) = (-\Omega(r), \Omega(r), 0)".

This doesn't seem possible to me...how can both x and y components of the velocity field be the same? I keep coming up with the like of, for a given r:

u_x = - r * \Omega(r) * \sin(\theta)​
u_x = r * \Omega(r) * \cos(\theta)​
where \theta = \Omega(r) * t;<br />
Nevertheless, the supplied answer to (1) is (u_x, u_y, u_z) = (-\Omega(r), \Omega(r), 0) and it seems to contradict my later assertion that (in cyl coords) u_r = 0.

For (2), I am asked to find the vorticity in three cases:

a) \Omega = q/r (typ. flow around strong concentrated vortex)

b) \Omega r^2 = constant = k(fluid parcels slowly spiraling towards origin while conserving angular momentum)

c) \Omega^2 r = G*M/r^2 (velocity distribution inside accretion disk in black hole or neutron star)

So, I chose to ignore the bogus part (1) and solve in cyl coord where v = (u_r, u_{\theta}, u_z). For all three cases I assumed that u_z = 0 (given) and u_r = 0 ("flow is the form a circular 'swirl' about the origin in the x-y plane"). (If u_r is not zero, I haven't a clue as to how to come up with a u_r...)

Then, blithely proceeding:

* In cyl. coor, u_{\theta} = r * \Omega(r), where \Omega(r) = angular velocity.
* Then, vorticity w = \nabla \times v is w_z only and reduces to
w_z = \frac {1} {r} \frac {d} {dr} (r * u_{\theta}) = \frac {1} {r} \frac {d} {dr}(r * r * \Omega(r))

Using this approach I get,

a) \Omega(r) = q/r gives w = \frac {1} {r} \frac {d} {dr}(r * r * q/r) = \frac {1} {r} \frac {d} {dr}(r*q) = q/r
b) \Omega r^2 = k \Rightarrow \Omega(r) = k/ r^2 \Rightarrow <br /> w = \frac {1} {r} \frac {d} {dr}(r * r * k / r^2) = \frac {1} {r} \frac {d} {dr}(k) = 0
c) \Omega^2 r = G*M/r^2 \Rightarrow \Omega(r) = \frac {k_2} {r^{3/2}} \Rightarrow w = \frac {1} {r} \frac {d} {dr}(r * r * \frac {k_2} {r^{3/2}}) = \frac {k_2} {r} \frac {d} {dr}(r^{1/2}) = \frac {k_2} {2} r^{-3/2}

Am I even close here?

Confused in Seattle,

/catboy
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
catboy said:
(1) As setup, the problem asks me to "Show the velocity components are given by (u_x,u_y,u_z) = (-\Omega(r), \Omega(r), 0)".

I'm not checked your solution, but the statement of your book (see the quoting) is wrong. That velocities haven't got dimensions of speed (they have dimensions of angular velocity). So I wouldn't pay much attention at that solution the book provides you.

Desconfusing in Madrid. :biggrin:
 
The rope is tied into the person (the load of 200 pounds) and the rope goes up from the person to a fixed pulley and back down to his hands. He hauls the rope to suspend himself in the air. What is the mechanical advantage of the system? The person will indeed only have to lift half of his body weight (roughly 100 pounds) because he now lessened the load by that same amount. This APPEARS to be a 2:1 because he can hold himself with half the force, but my question is: is that mechanical...
Some physics textbook writer told me that Newton's first law applies only on bodies that feel no interactions at all. He said that if a body is on rest or moves in constant velocity, there is no external force acting on it. But I have heard another form of the law that says the net force acting on a body must be zero. This means there is interactions involved after all. So which one is correct?
Thread 'Beam on an inclined plane'
Hello! I have a question regarding a beam on an inclined plane. I was considering a beam resting on two supports attached to an inclined plane. I was almost sure that the lower support must be more loaded. My imagination about this problem is shown in the picture below. Here is how I wrote the condition of equilibrium forces: $$ \begin{cases} F_{g\parallel}=F_{t1}+F_{t2}, \\ F_{g\perp}=F_{r1}+F_{r2} \end{cases}. $$ On the other hand...
Back
Top