Paper 3, Section II, B

Fluid Dynamics | Part IB, 2010

Write down the exact kinematic and dynamic boundary conditions that apply at the free surface z=η(x,t)z=\eta(x, t) of a fluid layer in the presence of gravity in the zz-direction. Show how these may be approximated for small disturbances of a hydrostatic state about z=0z=0. (The flow of the fluid is in the (x,z)(x, z)-plane and may be taken to be irrotational, and the pressure at the free surface may be assumed to be constant.)

Fluid of density ρ\rho fills the region 0>z>h0>z>-h. At z=hz=-h the zz-component of the velocity is ϵRe(eiωtcoskx)\epsilon \operatorname{Re}\left(e^{i \omega t} \cos k x\right), where ϵ1|\epsilon| \ll 1. Find the resulting disturbance of the free surface, assuming this to be small. Explain physically why your answer has a singularity for a particular value of ω2\omega^{2}.

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