Define the terms irrotational flow and incompressible flow. The two-dimensional flow of an incompressible fluid is given in terms of a streamfunction ψ(x,y) as
u=(u,v)=(∂y∂ψ,−∂x∂ψ)
in Cartesian coordinates (x,y). Show that the line integral
∫x1x2u⋅ndl=ψ(x2)−ψ(x1)
along any path joining the points x1 and x2, where n is the unit normal to the path. Describe how this result is related to the concept of mass conservation.
Inviscid, incompressible fluid is contained in the semi-infinite channel x>0, 0<y<1, which has rigid walls at x=0 and at y=0,1, apart from a small opening at the origin through which the fluid is withdrawn with volume flux m per unit distance in the third dimension. Show that the streamfunction for irrotational flow in the channel can be chosen (up to an additive constant) to satisfy the equation
∂x2∂2ψ+∂y2∂2ψ=0
and boundary conditions
if it is assumed that the flow at infinity is uniform. Solve the boundary-value problem above using separation of variables to obtain
ψ=−my+π2mn=1∑∞n1sinnπye−nπx
ψ=0 on y=0,x>0,ψ=−m on x=0,0<y<1,ψ=−m on y=1,x>0,ψ→−my as x→∞,