What is the Surface Shape Between Rotating Oil and Water in a Cylinder?

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SUMMARY

The surface shape between rotating oil and water in a cylindrical container is determined by gravitational and radial forces, resulting in a parabolic form. When oil rotates while water remains still, the oil-water interface exhibits the equation y = -r^2. The analysis involves calculating the slope of the surface using the relationship between radial force (F_r) and gravitational force (F_g), leading to the integration of y = (r^2 ω^2)/(2g) + C. This discussion highlights the complexities of fluid dynamics in a non-frictional, non-mixing environment.

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  • Familiarity with cylindrical coordinate systems
  • Knowledge of gravitational and radial forces
  • Basic calculus for integration and derivatives
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magicfountain
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Homework Statement


Oil and water are put in a cylindrical container. They can rotate at various frequency around the rotational symmetry axis.
Consider gravitational and radial forces to find the form of the surface between the fluids.
no friction, no mixing
the surface has the form of a parabloid.
surfaces are not touching each other or the bottom of the container.

Homework Equations


F_r=mr\omega ^2
F_g=mg

The Attempt at a Solution


I have found a solution, but it only applies when both (oil-air ,water-oil) parabloids have the form of y=r^2, but observation suggests, that if the water is still and the oil rotates, that the oil-water surface is of the form y=-r^2

Edit:
fluid3.png

i found the upper surface by saying:
the slope(derivative of the function y(r)) is given by the fact, that the resulting force is applied orthogonal to the surface.
this gives:
\frac{dy}{dr}=\frac{F_r}{F_g}=\frac{mr\omega ^2}{mg}=\frac{f\omega ^2}{g}
Integrating:
y=\frac{r^2 \omega ^2}{2g}+C

Edit 2:
Now I thought I could simply pull of this principle like in this picture to find the surface between the two fluids, simply adding the respective forces, but this stops making sense as soon as you see the surface between water and oil having the form y=-r^2
fluid.png

Once the surface turns this way, the vectors stop making sense.
fluid 2.png
 
Last edited:
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Try working with the internal pressure at a point at radius r and height y.
Can you figure out the two partial derivatives?
Start with the oil.
 

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