Paper 3, Section II, C

Fluid Dynamics
Part IB, 2019

A cubic box of side 2h2 h, enclosing the region 0<x<2h,0<y<2h,h<z<h0<x<2 h, 0<y<2 h,-h<z<h, contains equal volumes of two incompressible fluids that remain distinct. The system is initially at rest, with the fluid of density ρ1\rho_{1} occupying the region 0<z<h0<z<h and the fluid of density ρ2\rho_{2} occupying the region h<z<0-h<z<0, and with gravity (0,0,g)(0,0,-g). The interface between the fluids is then slightly perturbed. Derive the linearized equations and boundary conditions governing small disturbances to the initial state.

In the case ρ2>ρ1\rho_{2}>\rho_{1}, show that the angular frequencies ω\omega of the normal modes are given by

ω2=(ρ2ρ1ρ1+ρ2)gktanh(kh)\omega^{2}=\left(\frac{\rho_{2}-\rho_{1}}{\rho_{1}+\rho_{2}}\right) g k \tanh (k h)

and express the allowable values of the wavenumber kk in terms of hh. Identify the lowestfrequency non-trivial mode (s)(\mathrm{s}). Comment on the limit ρ1ρ2\rho_{1} \ll \rho_{2}. What physical behaviour is expected in the case ρ1>ρ2\rho_{1}>\rho_{2} ?