Consider the steady incompressible flow of a Newtonian fluid of density r and viscosity µ past a

solid spherical particle of radius R. The particle is held fixed in space and the fluid has constant free
stream velocity U (in the z direction) far away from the particle. In a spherical coordinate system with
its origin at the center of the particle, the velocity field in the surrounding fluid can be represented by
u = (ur, uq, 0). The drag coefficient Cd is defined as

Fz 2Fz
Cd = 1 =
2 ⇢U
2 2
(⇡R ) ⇡⇢U 2 R2

Z 2⇡ Z ⇡
Fz = (p cos ✓ ⌧✓r sin ✓) |r=R R2 sin ✓d✓d
0 0

where Fz is the z-component of the drag force exerted by the fluid on the particle, p and tqr denote
the pressure and tangential stress in the fluid, respectively, q is the angle from the z axis, and f is the
azimuthal angle.

a. Neglecting gravity, use dimensional analysis in conjunction with the continuity and Navier-
Stokes equations to obtain as much information as you can about the dependence of the drag
force on particle size and velocity, fluid density, and fluid viscosity. Identify the dimensionless
parameters governing the drag coefficient.
b. For slow flow of a very viscous liquid like glycerol past a sphere, experiments show that the drag
force is doubled when the freestream velocity is doubled. Use the result of your scaling analysis
in conjunction with the experimental observation to determine the dependence of the drag force
on particle size, fluid density, and fluid viscosity. Provide an expression for the dependence of
Cd on the dimensionless parameters identified earlier.
 ∂vy ∂vy CM3110
∂vy Fall
∂vy 2011 Faith ∂P A. Morrison
∂ vy ∂ vy ∂ vy
ρ + vx + vy + vz = − +µ + + + ρgy
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂y ∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
Continuity Equation, Cartesian coordinates # $
∂vz ∂vz ∂vz ∂vz ∂P ∂ 2 vz ∂"2v ∂ 2 vz
! "
z
ρ +∂ρ
vx ! + ∂ρvy +∂ρvz ∂ρ =
" −! + µ +
∂vx ∂vy 2 ∂vz∂y 2 + 2
+ ρgz
∂t ∂x vx
+ ∂y
+ vy +∂zvz + ρ ∂z + ∂x+ = ∂z
0
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x ∂y ∂z
Equation of Motion for incompressible, Newtonian fluid (Navier-Stokes equation), 3 components in cylin-
Continuity
drical Equation, cylindrical coordinates
coordinates
# $ # $
∂vr ∂vr vθ ∂vr v 2 ∂ρ ∂v1r ∂(ρrvr ) ∂P
1 ∂(ρvθ ) ∂ ∂(ρv z) r)
1 ∂(rv 1 ∂ 2 vr 2 ∂vθ ∂ 2 vr
! "
ρ + vr + − θ + vz+ = − + +µ + = 0+ − 2 + + ρgr
∂t ∂r r ∂θ r ∂t ∂zr ∂r r ∂θ ∂r ∂z
∂r r ∂r 2
r ∂θ 2 r ∂θ ∂z 2
# $
Continuity
∂vθ vθ ∂vθ spherical
∂vθEquation, vr vθ coordinates
∂vθ 1 ∂P ∂ 1 ∂(rvθ ) 1 ∂ 2 vθ 2 ∂vr ∂ 2 vθ
! " ! "
ρ + vr + + + vz = − +µ + 2 2
+ 2 + + ρgθ
∂t ∂r r ∂θ r ∂z r ∂θ ∂r r ∂r r ∂θ r ∂θ ∂z 2
∂ρ 1 ∂(ρr 2 vr ) 1 ∂(ρvθ sin#θ) 1 ∂(ρvφ )
+ "+ +! = 0 2 $
∂vz ∂vz ∂tvθ ∂vrz2 ∂r∂vz r sin θ ∂P ∂θ 1 ∂ r sin ∂vθz ∂φ 1 ∂ 2 vz ∂ vz
! "
ρ + vr + + vz = − +µ r + 2 + + ρgz
∂t ∂r r ∂θ ∂z ∂z r ∂r ∂r r ∂θ 2 ∂z 2
Equation of Motion for an incompressible fluid, 3 components in Cartesian coordinates
Equation of Motion for incompressible, Newtonian fluid (Navier-Stokes equation), " 3 components in spherical
∂vx ∂vx ∂vx ∂vx ∂P ∂ τ̃xx ∂ τ̃yx ∂ τ̃zx
! " !
coordinates ρ + vx + vy + vz = − + + + + ρgx
# ∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z 2 2
$ ∂x ∂x ∂y ∂z
∂vr ∂vr vθ ∂vr vφ ∂vr y θ v + v
+ vr∂vy ++vx ∂vy ++vy ∂vy + vz ∂v ∂P ∂ τ̃xy ∂ τ̃yy ∂ τ̃zy
! " ! "
φ
ρ −
∂t ρ ∂t ∂r r ∂x
∂θ sin θ ∂φ ∂z
r ∂y r= − ∂y + ∂x + ∂y + ∂z + ρgy
∂vz ∂P ∂vz ∂ ! ∂vz ∂ % ∂vz &" 1∂P +∂ ∂ τ̃xz ∂v ∂"τ̃ ∂ τ̃
! # " !! "
2v
ρ = −+ vx+ µ + vy 1 + vzr 2 vr = −
+ 2 ∂z sin θ + r yz + 1zz ∂
+ 2 ∂z 2 + ρg
r
z
∂t ∂r ∂x ∂r ∂y 2
r ∂r ∂z r sin θ ∂θ ∂x ∂θ ∂y r sin θ ∂φ2
2 ∂ coordinates2 ∂vφ
"
Equation of Motion for an incompressible fluid, 3 components in cylindrical
− 2 (vθ sin θ) − 2 + ρgr
# $ r sin θ ∂θ r "sin θ ∂φ
∂vr# ∂vr vθ ∂vr vθ2 ∂vr ∂P v 2 cot 1 ∂(rτ̃
$ ) 1 ∂ τ̃ τ̃ ∂ τ̃
!
θ rr θr θθ zr
ρ +∂vvθr +∂vθ ∂vθ + vzvφ ∂vθ = v−
vθ − r vθ +φ + − + + ρgr
ρ
∂t +
∂rvr r +∂θ r+ ∂z + ∂r− r ∂r r ∂θ r ∂z
∂t ∂r r ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ r r# $
∂vθ ∂vθ vθ ∂vθ vθ vr# ∂v!θ " 1 ∂P ! 1 ∂(r 2 τ̃rθ ) 1" ∂ τ̃θθ ∂ τ̃zθ 2τ̃θr − τ̃rθ
! "
ρ + vr + 1 ∂P + +1vz∂ =θ − 1 ∂ + 12 ∂
2 ∂v + + 1 +∂ vθ + ρgθ
∂t ∂r =r−∂θ +rµ 2 ∂z r +r ∂θ r ∂r(vθ sin θ) r ∂θ + 2 ∂z2 2 r
r ∂θ r ∂r " ∂r r 2 ∂θ ! sin θ ∂θ r sin " θ ∂φ
∂vz ∂vz vθ ∂vz ∂vz ∂P 1 ∂(rτ̃rz ) 1 ∂ τ̃θz ∂ τ̃zz
!
+2 ∂vr +2 ρg cotz θ ∂vφ
"
ρ + vr + + vz = − + +
∂t ∂r r ∂θ ∂z ∂z r ∂r r ∂θ+ 2 ∂z − 2 + ρgθ
r ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ
∂vof ∂vφ forvθan ∂vincompressible
vφ ∂vφ fluid, vφ vθ cot θ in spherical coordinates
vr vφ3 components
! "
Equation φ Motion φ
ρ + vr + + + +
∂t ∂r r ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ r r
vθ2 + vφ2
# $
∂v # ∂v ! vθ ∂v"r vφ !∂vr
1 ρ∂P r + v1r ∂ r + 2 ∂v 1 ∂ 1 ∂ 1 ∂ 2 vφ
"
φ + −
=− +
∂t µ 2 ∂r r r ∂θ + r2sin θ ∂φ (v
r φ sin θ) + 2 2
r sin#θ ∂φ r ∂r ∂r r ∂θ sin θ ∂θ $ r sin θ ∂φ2
∂P 1 ∂(r 2 τ̃rr ) 1 ∂(τ̃θr sin θ) 1 ∂ τ̃φr τ̃2θθ +∂v τ̃φφ 2 cot θ ∂v "
=− + + + − r + ρgr θ
∂r r 2 ∂r r sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ+ r 2 sin θr ∂φ + r 2 sin θ ∂φ + ρgφ

vφ2 cot
# $
Note: the r-component of the ∂v Navier-Stokes
θ ∂vθ equation
vθ ∂vθ invφspherical
∂vθ coordinates
vr vθ θ be simplified by adding 0 =
may
2 ρ + vr + + + −
r ∇ · v to the component shown ∂t above. This
∂r term
r ∂θis zero due to
r sin θ ∂φ the continuity
r requation (mass conservation). See
Bird et. al. # $
1 ∂P 1 ∂(r 3 τ̃rθ ) 1 ∂(τ̃θθ sin θ) 1 ∂ τ̃φθ τ̃θr − τ̃rθ τ̃φφ cot θ
=− + + + + − + ρgθ
References: r ∂θ r 3 ∂r r sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ r r
∂vφ and ∂v vθ ∂vφ vφ ∂vφ Phenomena,
vr vφ cotedition,
vφ v2θ nd θ
! "
1. R. B. Bird, W. E. Stewart,
ρ + vr E. N.+Lightfoot,
φ
+ Transport + + Wiley: NY, 2002.
∂t ∂r r ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ r r
2. R. B. Bird, R. C. Armstrong,
# and O. Hassager, Dynamics of Polymeric Fluids: Volume 1 $Fluid Mechanics,
1 ∂P 1 ∂(r 3 τ̃rφ ) 1 ∂ (τ̃θφ sin θ) 1 ∂ τ̃φφ τ̃φr − τ̃rφ τ̃φθ cot θ
Wiley:
=− NY, 1987.
+ + + + + + ρgφ
r sin θ ∂φ r3 ∂r r sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ r r