← 2021 Paper 2
UPSC 2021 Maths Optional Paper 2 Q8c — Step-by-Step Solution 20 marks · Section B
Potential flow · Mechanics & Fluid Dynamics · asked 10× in 13 yrs · Read the full method →
Question
For complex potential w = tan − 1 z w=\tan^{-1}z w = tan − 1 z , show streamlines and equipotential curves are circles. Find velocity at any point; check singularities at z = ± i z=\pm i z = ± i .
Technique
Use tan − 1 z = ( 1 / ( 2 i ) ) ln ( ( 1 + i z ) / ( 1 − i z ) ) \tan^{-1}z=(1/(2i))\ln((1+iz)/(1-iz)) tan − 1 z = ( 1/ ( 2 i )) ln (( 1 + i z ) / ( 1 − i z )) ; identify ϕ = Θ / 2 \phi=\Theta/2 ϕ = Θ/2 , ψ = − ln R / 2 \psi=-\ln R/2 ψ = − ln R /2 ; both equipotentials and streamlines are circles through the branch points.
Solution
w = tan − 1 z = 1 2 i ln ( 1 + i z 1 − i z ) w=\tan^{-1}z=\dfrac{1}{2i}\ln\!\left(\dfrac{1+iz}{1-iz}\right) w = tan − 1 z = 2 i 1 ln ( 1 − i z 1 + i z ) .
(Or equivalently: w = i 2 ln ( 1 − i z 1 + i z ) w=\dfrac{i}{2}\ln\!\left(\dfrac{1-iz}{1+iz}\right) w = 2 i ln ( 1 + i z 1 − i z ) .)
Step 2 — Express w = ϕ + i ψ w=\phi+i\psi w = ϕ + i ψ
Let 1 + i z 1 − i z = R e i Θ \dfrac{1+iz}{1-iz}=Re^{i\Theta} 1 − i z 1 + i z = R e i Θ where R , Θ R,\Theta R , Θ are real-valued functions of ( x , y ) (x,y) ( x , y ) .
Then w = 1 2 i ( ln R + i Θ ) = Θ 2 − i 2 ln R w=\dfrac{1}{2i}(\ln R+i\Theta)=\dfrac{\Theta}{2}-\dfrac{i}{2}\ln R w = 2 i 1 ( ln R + i Θ ) = 2 Θ − 2 i ln R .
ϕ = Θ / 2 \phi=\Theta/2 ϕ = Θ/2 , ψ = − ln R / 2 \psi=-\ln R/2 ψ = − ln R /2 .
Step 3 — Compute R R R and Θ \Theta Θ
1 + i z = 1 + i ( x + i y ) = 1 − y + i x 1+iz=1+i(x+iy)=1-y+ix 1 + i z = 1 + i ( x + i y ) = 1 − y + i x .
1 − i z = 1 + y − i x 1-iz=1+y-ix 1 − i z = 1 + y − i x .
1 + i z 1 − i z = ( 1 − y + i x ) ( 1 + y − i x ) = ( 1 − y + i x ) ( 1 + y + i x ) ( 1 + y − i x ) ( 1 + y + i x ) \dfrac{1+iz}{1-iz}=\dfrac{(1-y+ix)}{(1+y-ix)}=\dfrac{(1-y+ix)(1+y+ix)}{(1+y-ix)(1+y+ix)} 1 − i z 1 + i z = ( 1 + y − i x ) ( 1 − y + i x ) = ( 1 + y − i x ) ( 1 + y + i x ) ( 1 − y + i x ) ( 1 + y + i x ) .
Numerator: ( 1 − y + i x ) ( 1 + y + i x ) (1-y+ix)(1+y+ix) ( 1 − y + i x ) ( 1 + y + i x ) . Expand: ( 1 + i x ) 2 − y 2 + cross ⋅ (1+ix)^2-y^2+\text{cross}\cdot ( 1 + i x ) 2 − y 2 + cross ⋅ … actually ( 1 − y + i x ) ( 1 + y + i x ) = [ ( 1 + i x ) − y ] [ ( 1 + i x ) + y ] = ( 1 + i x ) 2 − y 2 (1-y+ix)(1+y+ix)=[(1+ix)-y][(1+ix)+y]=(1+ix)^2-y^2 ( 1 − y + i x ) ( 1 + y + i x ) = [( 1 + i x ) − y ] [( 1 + i x ) + y ] = ( 1 + i x ) 2 − y 2 .
( 1 + i x ) 2 = 1 + 2 i x − x 2 (1+ix)^2=1+2ix-x^2 ( 1 + i x ) 2 = 1 + 2 i x − x 2 . So numerator = 1 − x 2 − y 2 + 2 i x =1-x^2-y^2+2ix = 1 − x 2 − y 2 + 2 i x .
Denominator: ( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 (1+y)^2+x^2 ( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 .
So 1 + i z 1 − i z = ( 1 − x 2 − y 2 ) + 2 i x ( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 \dfrac{1+iz}{1-iz}=\dfrac{(1-x^2-y^2)+2ix}{(1+y)^2+x^2} 1 − i z 1 + i z = ( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 ( 1 − x 2 − y 2 ) + 2 i x .
R 2 = ∣ numerator ∣ 2 / ∣ denominator ∣ 2 = ( 1 − x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 [ ( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 ] 2 R^2=|\text{numerator}|^2/|\text{denominator}|^2=\dfrac{(1-x^2-y^2)^2+4x^2}{[(1+y)^2+x^2]^2} R 2 = ∣ numerator ∣ 2 /∣ denominator ∣ 2 = [( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 ] 2 ( 1 − x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 .
Numerator of R 2 R^2 R 2 : ( 1 − x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 (1-x^2-y^2)^2+4x^2 ( 1 − x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 .
Expand: 1 − 2 ( x 2 + y 2 ) + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 = 1 + 2 x 2 − 2 y 2 + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 1-2(x^2+y^2)+(x^2+y^2)^2+4x^2=1+2x^2-2y^2+(x^2+y^2)^2 1 − 2 ( x 2 + y 2 ) + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 = 1 + 2 x 2 − 2 y 2 + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 .
Hmm let me try 1 − 2 ( x 2 + y 2 ) + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 = 1 + 2 ( 2 x 2 ) − 2 ( x 2 + y 2 ) + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 = 1 + ( 2 x 2 − 2 y 2 ) + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 1-2(x^2+y^2)+(x^2+y^2)^2+4x^2=1+2(2x^2)-2(x^2+y^2)+(x^2+y^2)^2=1+(2x^2-2y^2)+(x^2+y^2)^2 1 − 2 ( x 2 + y 2 ) + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 = 1 + 2 ( 2 x 2 ) − 2 ( x 2 + y 2 ) + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 = 1 + ( 2 x 2 − 2 y 2 ) + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 .
Factor: ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 + 2 x 2 − 2 y 2 + 1 = ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 + 2 ( x 2 − y 2 ) + 1 (x^2+y^2)^2+2x^2-2y^2+1=(x^2+y^2)^2+2(x^2-y^2)+1 ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 + 2 x 2 − 2 y 2 + 1 = ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 + 2 ( x 2 − y 2 ) + 1 .
Note ( 1 + x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + ( 2 x y ) 2 = 1 + 2 ( x 2 − y 2 ) + ( x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 y 2 = 1 + 2 ( x 2 − y 2 ) + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 (1+x^2-y^2)^2+(2xy)^2=1+2(x^2-y^2)+(x^2-y^2)^2+4x^2 y^2=1+2(x^2-y^2)+(x^2+y^2)^2 ( 1 + x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + ( 2 x y ) 2 = 1 + 2 ( x 2 − y 2 ) + ( x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 y 2 = 1 + 2 ( x 2 − y 2 ) + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 .
(Used ( x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 y 2 = ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 (x^2-y^2)^2+4x^2 y^2=(x^2+y^2)^2 ( x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 y 2 = ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 .)
So R 2 ⋅ R^2 \cdot R 2 ⋅ denom2 = ( 1 + x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + ( 2 x y ) 2 ^2 = (1+x^2-y^2)^2+(2xy)^2 2 = ( 1 + x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + ( 2 x y ) 2 , meaning
R 2 = ( 1 + x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + ( 2 x y ) 2 [ ( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 ] 2 R^2=\dfrac{(1+x^2-y^2)^2+(2xy)^2}{[(1+y)^2+x^2]^2} R 2 = [( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 ] 2 ( 1 + x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + ( 2 x y ) 2 .
This factors nicely as ∣ 1 + i z ∣ 2 |1+iz|^2 ∣1 + i z ∣ 2 … let me check. ∣ 1 + i z ∣ 2 = ( 1 − y ) 2 + x 2 |1+iz|^2=(1-y)^2+x^2 ∣1 + i z ∣ 2 = ( 1 − y ) 2 + x 2 . Hmm not matching.
Actually, ∣ 1 + i z ∣ = ∣ 1 − y + i x ∣ = ( 1 − y ) 2 + x 2 |1+iz|=|1-y+ix|=\sqrt{(1-y)^2+x^2} ∣1 + i z ∣ = ∣1 − y + i x ∣ = ( 1 − y ) 2 + x 2 . And ∣ 1 − i z ∣ = ( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 |1-iz|=\sqrt{(1+y)^2+x^2} ∣1 − i z ∣ = ( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 .
∣ 1 + i z 1 − i z ∣ = ∣ 1 + i z ∣ ∣ 1 − i z ∣ = ( 1 − y ) 2 + x 2 ( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 = R |\dfrac{1+iz}{1-iz}|=\dfrac{|1+iz|}{|1-iz|}=\dfrac{\sqrt{(1-y)^2+x^2}}{\sqrt{(1+y)^2+x^2}}=R ∣ 1 − i z 1 + i z ∣ = ∣1 − i z ∣ ∣1 + i z ∣ = ( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 ( 1 − y ) 2 + x 2 = R .
So R 2 = ( 1 − y ) 2 + x 2 ( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 R^2=\dfrac{(1-y)^2+x^2}{(1+y)^2+x^2} R 2 = ( 1 + y ) 2 + x 2 ( 1 − y ) 2 + x 2 .
Step 4 — Streamlines: ψ = \psi= ψ = const, i.e., R = R= R = const
R 2 = x 2 + ( 1 − y ) 2 x 2 + ( 1 + y ) 2 = k R^2=\dfrac{x^2+(1-y)^2}{x^2+(1+y)^2}=k R 2 = x 2 + ( 1 + y ) 2 x 2 + ( 1 − y ) 2 = k (some constant).
Cross-multiply: x 2 + ( 1 − y ) 2 = k [ x 2 + ( 1 + y ) 2 ] x^2+(1-y)^2=k[x^2+(1+y)^2] x 2 + ( 1 − y ) 2 = k [ x 2 + ( 1 + y ) 2 ] ,
( 1 − k ) x 2 + ( 1 − y ) 2 − k ( 1 + y ) 2 = 0 (1-k)x^2+(1-y)^2-k(1+y)^2=0 ( 1 − k ) x 2 + ( 1 − y ) 2 − k ( 1 + y ) 2 = 0 ,
( 1 − k ) x 2 + 1 − 2 y + y 2 − k ( 1 + 2 y + y 2 ) = 0 (1-k)x^2+1-2y+y^2-k(1+2y+y^2)=0 ( 1 − k ) x 2 + 1 − 2 y + y 2 − k ( 1 + 2 y + y 2 ) = 0 ,
( 1 − k ) x 2 + ( 1 − k ) y 2 − 2 y − 2 k y + ( 1 − k ) = 0 (1-k)x^2+(1-k)y^2-2y-2ky+(1-k)=0 ( 1 − k ) x 2 + ( 1 − k ) y 2 − 2 y − 2 k y + ( 1 − k ) = 0 ,
( 1 − k ) ( x 2 + y 2 ) − 2 y ( 1 + k ) + ( 1 − k ) = 0 (1-k)(x^2+y^2)-2y(1+k)+(1-k)=0 ( 1 − k ) ( x 2 + y 2 ) − 2 y ( 1 + k ) + ( 1 − k ) = 0 .
Divide by ( 1 − k ) (1-k) ( 1 − k ) (assuming k ≠ 1 k\ne 1 k = 1 ):
x 2 + y 2 − 2 ( 1 + k ) 1 − k y + 1 = 0 x^2+y^2-\dfrac{2(1+k)}{1-k}y+1=0 x 2 + y 2 − 1 − k 2 ( 1 + k ) y + 1 = 0 .
Complete square: x 2 + ( y − 1 + k 1 − k ) 2 = ( 1 + k 1 − k ) 2 − 1 x^2+\!\left(y-\dfrac{1+k}{1-k}\right)^2=\!\left(\dfrac{1+k}{1-k}\right)^2-1 x 2 + ( y − 1 − k 1 + k ) 2 = ( 1 − k 1 + k ) 2 − 1 .
Let β = ( 1 + k ) / ( 1 − k ) \beta=(1+k)/(1-k) β = ( 1 + k ) / ( 1 − k ) . Then β 2 − 1 = ( β − 1 ) ( β + 1 ) \beta^2-1=(\beta-1)(\beta+1) β 2 − 1 = ( β − 1 ) ( β + 1 ) .
β − 1 = 1 + k − ( 1 − k ) 1 − k = 2 k 1 − k \beta-1=\dfrac{1+k-(1-k)}{1-k}=\dfrac{2k}{1-k} β − 1 = 1 − k 1 + k − ( 1 − k ) = 1 − k 2 k . β + 1 = 1 + k + 1 − k 1 − k = 2 1 − k \beta+1=\dfrac{1+k+1-k}{1-k}=\dfrac{2}{1-k} β + 1 = 1 − k 1 + k + 1 − k = 1 − k 2 .
β 2 − 1 = 4 k ( 1 − k ) 2 \beta^2-1=\dfrac{4k}{(1-k)^2} β 2 − 1 = ( 1 − k ) 2 4 k .
So streamlines are circles x 2 + ( y − β ) 2 = β 2 − 1 x^2+(y-\beta)^2=\beta^2-1 x 2 + ( y − β ) 2 = β 2 − 1 with centre ( 0 , β ) (0,\beta) ( 0 , β ) on the y y y -axis and radius β 2 − 1 \sqrt{\beta^2-1} β 2 − 1 .
Streamlines are circles passing through ( 0 , ± 1 ) (0,\pm 1) ( 0 , ± 1 ) . (These are the points where the radius vanishes, the singularities at z = ± i z=\pm i z = ± i .)
Step 5 — Equipotential curves: ϕ = \phi= ϕ = const, Θ = \Theta= Θ = const
Θ = arg ( 1 + i z 1 − i z ) \Theta=\arg\!\left(\dfrac{1+iz}{1-iz}\right) Θ = arg ( 1 − i z 1 + i z ) . Geometrically, Θ \Theta Θ is the angle subtended by the chord from − i -i − i to + i +i + i (the imaginary axis from z = − i z=-i z = − i to z = + i z=+i z = + i ) at the point z z z .
By the inscribed-angle theorem, Θ = \Theta= Θ = const ⇒ the locus of points where the chord [ − i , + i ] [-i,+i] [ − i , + i ] subtends a constant angle is a circular arc.
Equipotential curves are circles (arcs passing through ( 0 , ± 1 ) (0,\pm 1) ( 0 , ± 1 ) subtending angle Θ \Theta Θ from these endpoints).
Step 6 — Velocity
d w d z = d d z tan − 1 z = 1 1 + z 2 \dfrac{dw}{dz}=\dfrac{d}{dz}\tan^{-1}z=\dfrac{1}{1+z^2} d z d w = d z d tan − 1 z = 1 + z 2 1 .
Velocity vector V ˉ = 1 1 + z 2 \bar V=\dfrac{1}{1+z^2} V ˉ = 1 + z 2 1 . Magnitude: ∣ V ∣ = 1 / ∣ 1 + z 2 ∣ |V|=1/|1+z^2| ∣ V ∣ = 1/∣1 + z 2 ∣ .
In Cartesian: 1 + z 2 = 1 + ( x + i y ) 2 = 1 + x 2 − y 2 + 2 i x y 1+z^2=1+(x+iy)^2=1+x^2-y^2+2ixy 1 + z 2 = 1 + ( x + i y ) 2 = 1 + x 2 − y 2 + 2 i x y .
∣ 1 + z 2 ∣ = ( 1 + x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 y 2 = ( 1 − y 2 + x 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 y 2 |1+z^2|=\sqrt{(1+x^2-y^2)^2+4x^2 y^2}=\sqrt{(1-y^2+x^2)^2+4x^2 y^2} ∣1 + z 2 ∣ = ( 1 + x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 y 2 = ( 1 − y 2 + x 2 ) 2 + 4 x 2 y 2 .
Recall: ( 1 + x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + ( 2 x y ) 2 = 1 + 2 ( x 2 − y 2 ) + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 (1+x^2-y^2)^2+(2xy)^2=1+2(x^2-y^2)+(x^2+y^2)^2 ( 1 + x 2 − y 2 ) 2 + ( 2 x y ) 2 = 1 + 2 ( x 2 − y 2 ) + ( x 2 + y 2 ) 2 (computed earlier).
Step 7 — Singularities
1 + z 2 = 0 ⇒ z = ± i 1+z^2=0\Rightarrow z=\pm i 1 + z 2 = 0 ⇒ z = ± i . So d w / d z dw/dz d w / d z has poles at z = ± i z=\pm i z = ± i — these are stagnation points in the inverse sense (velocity diverges; physically, the flow streamlines converge there).
w = tan − 1 z w=\tan^{-1}z w = tan − 1 z itself has branch points at z = ± i z=\pm i z = ± i (the logarithm form ln ( ( 1 + i z ) / ( 1 − i z ) ) / 2 i \ln((1+iz)/(1-iz))/2i ln (( 1 + i z ) / ( 1 − i z )) /2 i has logarithmic singularities there).
So z = ± i z=\pm i z = ± i are logarithmic branch points of w w w .
Answer
Streamlines and equipotentials are circles through ( 0 , ± 1 ) ; V = 1 / ( 1 + z 2 ) ; branch points at z = ± i . \boxed{\;\text{Streamlines and equipotentials are circles through }(0,\pm 1);\;V=1/(1+z^2);\;\text{branch points at }z=\pm i.\;} Streamlines and equipotentials are circles through ( 0 , ± 1 ) ; V = 1/ ( 1 + z 2 ) ; branch points at z = ± i .