Paper 2, Section II, B
Air is blown over the surface of a large, deep reservoir of water in such a way as to exert a tangential stress in the -direction of magnitude for , with . The water is otherwise at rest and occupies the region . The surface remains flat.
Find order-of-magnitude estimates for the boundary-layer thickness and tangential surface velocity in terms of the relevant physical parameters.
Using the boundary-layer equations, find the ordinary differential equation governing the dimensionless function defined in the streamfunction
What are the boundary conditions on ?
Does as ? Why, or why not?
The total horizontal momentum flux across the vertical line is proportional to for . Find the exponent . By considering the steadiness of the momentum balance in the region , explain why the value of is consistent with the form of the stress exerted on the boundary.