MST3262206F1PV1

MST326

Module Examination 2022

Mathematical Methods and Fluid Mechanics

Tuesday 14 June 2022

There are two sections in this examination.

In Section 1 you should attempt all 7 questions. Each question is worth 7%
of the total mark.
In Section 2 you should attempt 3 out of the 5 questions. Each question
is worth 17% of the total mark.
Do not submit more than the required number of answers for Section 2. If you
do, only the first 3 answers submitted will be marked.
Handwritten answers must be in pen, though you may draw diagrams in pencil.
Start your answer to each question on a new page, clearly indicating the
number of the question.
Crossed out work will not be marked.
Follow the instructions in the online timed examination for how to submit your
work.
Further information about completing and submitting your examination work is
in the Instructions and guidance for your remote examination document on the
module website.
Submit your exam using the iCMA system (iCME81). Make sure that the name
of the PDF file you submit includes your PI and the module code, e.g.
X1234567MST326.

Copyright © 2022 The Open University

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MST326 June 2022 CONTINUED 2 of 9

Section 1
You should attempt all seven questions. Write in pen and start
your answer to each question on a new page.
Include all your working, as some marks are awarded for this.
Each question is worth 7%.

Question 1
The atmosphere can be modelled as a perfect gas at rest that satisfies
the equation of fluid statics, where the relationship between the
pressure p and density ρ as the altitude increases is given by p = kρ4/3 ,
where k is a constant. The pressure and density at ground level (z = 0)
are p0 and ρ0 , respectively.
Show that according to this model, the density at height z is given by
ρ(z) = ρ0 (1 − Az)γ . Give the numerical value of the exponent γ and an
expression for the constant A in terms of k, ρ0 , and the magnitude g of
the acceleration due to gravity. [7]

Question 2
(a) Show that if a power series
∞
X
y= aj x j
j=0

is taken as the form of solution for the differential equation

d2 y dy
(3 + x2 ) − 3x + 3y = 0,
dx2 dx
then
(3 − j)(j − 1)
aj+2 = aj (j = 0, 1, 2, ...). [4]
3(j + 1)(j + 2)

(b) Hence determine the first three non-zero terms of this power series
solution for which
dy
y(0) = 1 and (0) = 0. [3]
dx

Question 3
(a) Show that the partial differential equation for u(x, y) given by
∂u 1 ∂u
x2 + =1 (x > 0, y > 0)
∂x 2y ∂y
has characteristic curves described by
1
y2 + = constant. [3]
x
(b) By choosing appropriate new variables find the general solution of
the given partial differential equation. [4]

MST326 June 2022 CONTINUED 3 of 9

Question 4
An axially symmetric jet of water travels vertically upwards from a
reservoir of liquid, as illustrated in the diagram below. The jet emerges
from a small circular hole with speed U , and rises to a height d. The
reservoir is filled with liquid of density ρ to a height h above the hole
through which the water emerges. Consider p0 to be the atmospheric
pressure.

(a) Applying an appropriate form of Bernoulli’s equation, show that

d = h, and find an expression for the speed U in terms of h and
the magnitude g of the acceleration due to gravity. [5]
(b) If the steady flow rate at the hole is 4 × 10−5 m3 s−1 , calculate the
cross sectional area of the hole. Take h = 2 m, g = 10 m s−2 , and
give answers to three significant figures. [2]

Question 5
The velocity field u of a two-dimensional fluid flow at time t = 0 is
given in cylindrical polar coordinates (r, θ, z) by
 2   2 
R R
u = U cos θ − 1 er + U sin θ + 1 eθ (r ≥ R)
r2 r2
where R and U are positive constants.
(a) Show that u represents the velocity field of an incompressible
flow. [2]
(b) Find the circulation of u around the circle r = R at t = 0. [2]
(c) Show that this flow is irrotational everywhere. [3]

MST326 June 2022 CONTINUED 4 of 9

Question 6
In spherical polar coordinates (r, θ, ϕ), the general solution of Laplace’s
equation which has cylindrical symmetry about the polar axis and is
bounded on the polar axis can be expressed as
∞
X
An rn + Bn r−(n+1) Pn (cos θ),


u(r, θ) =
n=0

where An and Bn are arbitrary constants, and Pn is the Legendre

polynomial of degree n. (You are not asked to show this.)
Find the solution u(r, θ) of Laplace’s equation in the region a < r < b
that satisfies the boundary conditions
u(a, θ) = 0 and u(b, θ) = 1. [7]

Question 7
A horizontal smooth-walled cylindrical pipe of diameter 2 cm and
length 5 m is used to supply compressed air with a flow rate of
Q = 10−3 m3 s−1 .
The kinematic viscosity of air can be assumed to be ν = 10−5 m2 s−1
and the density is ρ = 1.2 kg m−3 .
(a) Find the mean flow speed, and determine the Reynolds number.
Establish whether the flow is turbulent or not. [3]
(b) Show that λ = 0.035 is a good approximation of the Darcy friction
factor for a smooth-walled pipe with the given flow rate. [2]
(c) Estimate the pressure drop in the pipe. [2]

MST326 June 2022 CONTINUED 5 of 9

Section 2
You should attempt three questions. If you attempt more, only the
first 3 answers submitted will be marked.
Write in pen and start your answer to each question on a new page.
Include all your working, as some marks are awarded for this.
Each question is worth 17%.

Question 8
Consider a two-dimensional fluid flow whose velocity field in Cartesian
form is
u = −yi + (x − αt)j,
where α is a positive constant.
(a) Is the flow (i) incompressible, (ii) irrotational, (iii) steady? Give a
reason for each of your answers. [3]
(b) (i) Write down the equations describing the stream function for
this flow, and hence find the stream function. [5]
(ii) Find the equation of the streamline that passes through the
point (1, 0) at time t = 0. [2]
(c) Suppose that the fluid is inviscid and of constant density ρ, and
that is acted upon by a body force (per unit mass)
F = αti − yj.
Find the pressure distribution in the fluid (up to an arbitrary
function of time) and hence show that the pressure along a
streamline, at t = 0, is independent of x. [7]

Question 9
The function u(x, y) satisfies the partial differential equation
2
2∂ u ∂ 2u 2
2∂ u y 2 ∂u x2 ∂u
y − 2xy +x − − =0 (x ̸= 0, y ̸= 0).
∂x2 ∂x∂y ∂y 2 x ∂x y ∂y
(a) Show that this equation is parabolic. [2]
(b) Find the equation of a characteristic curve, and hence show that
the characteristic coordinates may be chosen as
ζ = x2 + y 2 , ϕ = y. [4]

(c) Show that the corresponding standard form for the equation is
∂ 2 u 1 ∂u
− = 0. [8]
∂ϕ2 ϕ ∂ϕ

(d) By solving the standard form given in part (c), find the general
solution of the original equation. [3]

MST326 June 2022 CONTINUED 6 of 9

Question 10
A viscous liquid film of constant density ρ and coefficient of viscosity µ
flows between two infinite parallel plates located at z = 0 and z = h.
The plate at z = 0 is stationary whereas the plate at z = h moves
parallel to the direction of the x-axis with velocity U e−αt , where U and
α are positive constants. There is no applied pressure gradient and
gravitational effects may be neglected.
(a) Write down the mathematical consequences of the following
modelling assumptions:
(i) The flow is two-dimensional and unsteady.
(ii) There is no variation in the direction of the y-axis.
(iii) There is no variation of velocity parallel to the plates. [2]
(b) Use the continuity equation together with the assumptions stated
in (a) to show that the velocity field is u = u(z, t) i. [2]
(c) State the boundary conditions at the lower and upper plate. [1]
(d) Use the Navier–Stokes equations to show that the function u(z, t)
satisfies the partial differential equation
∂u µ ∂ 2u
= . [3]
∂t ρ ∂z 2

(e) By assuming a solution of the form

u(z, t) = e−αt f (z),
find the velocity field that satisfies the boundary conditions stated
in part (c). [6]
(f) Show that in the limit α → 0 the velocity profile becomes linear. [3]

MST326 June 2022 CONTINUED 7 of 9

Question 11
The temperature distribution u(x, t) in a bar 4 m long, insulated along
its length, is given by the heat equation,
∂u ∂ 2u
= (0 < x < 4, t > 0),
∂t ∂x2
where x measures distance along the bar, t is time, and u is temperature
measured in ◦ C. Initially the bar has the temperature distribution
   
πx πx
u(x, 0) = 8 sin − 2 sin (0 < x < 4).
4 2
Both ends of the bar at x = 0 and x = 4 are in contact with blocks of
ice at 0◦ C.
(a) Write down the boundary conditions for the temperature
distribution that model the situation described above. [2]
(b) Consider the eigenvalue problem
X ′′ (x) + λX(x) = 0, X(0) = X(4) = 0.
Find the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. You may assume that all
eigenvalues are non-negative. [3]
(c) Use the method of separation of variables to find an expression for
the temperature distribution in the bar for t > 0. [12]

MST326 June 2022 CONTINUED 8 of 9

Question 12
(a) The standing wave y(x, t) = 8 cos(8πx) sin(πt) can also be
represented by a combination of two travelling waves as
y(x, t) = 5 (sin [π(8x + t)] − sin [π(8x − t)]) .
(i) Specify all nodes of the standing wave. [1]
(ii) For the constituent travelling waves, specify the wavelength
and frequency. [3]
(b) The motion of a uniform, light, semi-infinite, elastic string with a
free end at x = 0 is modelled by
∂ 2u ∂ 2u
9 − 2 =0 (0 < x < ∞, t > 0),
∂t2 ∂x
subject to the initial conditions
2
e−x
u(x, 0) = (0 < x < ∞),
12
∂u
(x, 0) = cos(πx) (0 < x < ∞).
∂t
Determine the solution u(x, t) when x = 2 and t = 3, giving your
answer correct to three significant figures. [4]
(c) A long straight section of a canal contains water of equilibrium
depth 10 m. Sinusoidal waves of wavelength λ can be propagated
in the water. Take the magnitude of the acceleration due to
gravity to be g = 9.81 ms−2 .
An instantaneous disturbance in the canal at position A generates
surface waves. At position B, some distance along the canal, the
resulting waves are later observed. It is noted that at 6:00 GMT,
10 waves pass B in 16 s, whereas at 06:20 GMT, ten waves pass B
in 8 s. Assume that the deep water wave theory applies and that
groups of waves leave A at the same time and travel with their
respective group velocities.
Find the distance of B from A, and the time at which the
disturbance occurred. [9]

[END OF QUESTION PAPER]

MST326 June 2022 9 of 9