455

XIII.

ByW.

On

the

Motion of Two Spheres

M. Hicks, M.A., Fellow of St. John's

Communicated by Professor

Received

The

May

16

in. a

Fluid.

College,

Cambridge.

Clerk Maxwell, F.R.S.

J.

Head June 19, 1879.

general theory of the motion of a single rigid body through an infinite incom-

pressible fluid

well known, chiefly through the

is

work of Thomson and Tait* and

KiRCHHOPF,t and we are able to calculate numerically the results in the case of the
sphere, the ellipsoid,

and a large number of

motion of two or more bodies in a

The theory

cylindrical surfaces.

fluid has naturally

of the

not made the same progress,

and we are unable to determine the form of the expressions involved for the general
motion of any particular solids. So far as I am aware, the first attempt was made by
Stokes, in a paper read before the Cambridge Philosophical Society in 1843, entitled
"

On some

cases of Fluid Motion. "J

He

siders the case of* two spheres.

In this paper, amongst other problems, he condetermines the instantaneous velocity potential

two concentric spheres and for two concentric cylinders with fluid between them,
and finds that the effect of the fluid is to increase the inertia of the inner sphere by

for

a mass =.\. ~
(./

Q&

by a mass

He

- of the mass of the fluid displaced, and that of the inner cylinder

~ (v

_1_ /v2

of the mass displaced, a,

also approximates to the cases

another in an infinite fluid

and

b,

being the radii of the spheres or cylinders.

where one sphere

is

moving

also in the presence of a plane, the

first

plane,

and then suppose them actually animated with

velocities equal

to the normal velocities of the fluid motion at those points

two

method used

to calculate the velocity potential for any motion of the points of the

being

removed.

in the presence of

He

spheres.

applies the

same method

and opposite

the plane had been

also to the consideration of the

motion of

In a note in the Report of the British Association at Oxford, 1847,

he states the theorem given by

axis passes through the centre,

the motion.

if

me

in

4 relating to the image of a doublet whose

and mentions that

this will easily serve to determine

In 1863 Herr Bjerknes communicated a paper to the Society of

Sciences at Christiana, on the motion of a sphere which changes

# Nat. Phil., p. 264,

new

edition, p. 330.

f BORCHARDT, Bd. 71.

J

Camb.

Phil. Trans., vol.

viii.

N 2

its

volume, and in

456

MR. W. M. HICKS

which he approximates

THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES IF A FLUID,

ON"

for the

motion of two spheres.

have not been able to see this

paper, nor some others which he presented to the same Society at some later periods

but he has given an account of his researches in the

Comptes Rendus/* together

'

He

with some historical notices on the development of the theory.

does not seem,

however, to have been acquainted with the important paper of Stokes above referred

T ait's Natural Philosophy

In 1867 Thomson and

to.t

appeared, containing general

theorems on the motion of a sphere in a fluid bounded by an

a sphere moving perpendicularly to the plane moves as

moves

parallel to it it is attracted.

if

infinite plane, viz.

by

repelled

it,

that

whilst

if it

In a paper on vortex motion in the same year

Thomson proved that a body or system of bodies passing on

obstacle move as if attracted or repelled by it, according as the

(Edin. Trans., vol. xxv.),

one side of a fixed

translation

'Philosophical Magazine' for June, 1871, Professor

from Sir

W. Thomson

one of which
that

if

is

vibrating in the line of centres.

the density of the free globe

two small spheres

pp. 229, 248.

it is

publishes some letters

than that of the

is less

attracted,

Results only are given, and he states

and within which

Of

there

fluid,

is

by Kirchhoff in his Vorles,

papers Bjerknes takes up the question of
'

solutions for other cases than spheres,

Math. Phys./

u.
cc

a " critical

The problem

it is repelled.

also considered

is

In his later

well as vibrations.

Guthrie

on the apparent attraction or repulsion between two spheres,

distance beyond which

of

In the

in the direction of the resultant impulse or opposite to it

is

pulsations " as

Kirchhoff has

con-

sidered \ the case of two thin rigid rings, the axes of the rings being any closed
*
f

Comptes Rendus,' torn, lxxxiv., p. 1222, &c.

Not only Herr Bjerknes, but several writers on the Continent seem
'

'

(second edition,

p.

unacquainted with this

Kirchhoff, in his 'Vorlesungen

paper of Stokes, and also with Green's papers.

Physik

to be

227), says that Dirichlet

first

iiber

Monatsberiehte der Berl. Akad.' in 1852, and Clebsch that of the ellipsoid in 1856, in

Bjerknes

also repeats the

same statement, and Clebsch

In his paper Dirichlet says

solve for the sphere.

"

Mathematische

treated the motion of a sphere in a fluid in the

c

Bd. 52.

Crelle,'

in his paper regards Dirichlet as the first to

Wie

es scheint, ist bis jetzt fiir keinen

noch so

einfachen Fall der Widerstand, den ein in einer ruhenden Fltissigkeit fortbewegter fester Korper von
dieser erleidet, aus den seit Euler bekannten allgemeinen gleichungen der

worden."

The

fact

entitled " Researches

is

that

Green

in a paper read before the

on the Vibrations of Pendulums

in Fluid

Hydrodynamik

Royal Society

Media

of

abgeleitet

Edinburgh

in 1833,

" (Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin.

also

published in the Reprint of his papers, p. 313), and written without the knowledge of Poisson's paper of
1831, " Sur les mouvements simultanes d'un pendule et de Pair environnant," treated of the motions of

an ellipsoid moving parallel to one of

for a motion parallel to an axis,

that

it is

which

its axes.

He

obtains the velocity potential as an elliptic integral

also of course contains implicitly that for the sphere.

He shows

necessary to suppose the density of the body augmented by a quantity proportional to the

density of the fluid.

For the case of the spheroids moving in their equatorial planes or

parallel to their

axes he completely determines this quantity, whilst for the sphere he finds that it is one-half the mass of
the fluid displaced. The first place in which I have been able to find the well known form of the velocity
potential for a sphere

is

in Stokes' paper of

a more general problem, and

lines of flow were, I believe, first

+

Borchardt,

Bel. 71,

1843 before mentioned.

refers to it as the "

known

given by Dieiohlet,

He

obtains

" value for the sphere,

it

as a particular case of

The equations

of the

MR. W. M. HICKS ON

THE MOTION OF 'TWO SPHERES IN A FLUID.

457

curves and the sections by planes perpendicular to the axis being small circles of

may be

constant radii, and he arrives at the result that their action on one another

them and I have recently

manner with their axes
always parallel. The velocity potentials for the motion of the two cylinders are
found in general as definite integrals, which, when the cylinders move as a rigid
represented by supposing electric currents to flow round

solved the problem of the motion of two cylinders in any

body, are expressed in a simple

The functions involved

finite

form as

elliptic functions of bipolar coordinates.

in the coefficients of the velocities in the expression for the

energy have a close analogy with those for spheres arrived at in the following
investigation.
1.

Our

first

aim

which a sphere

fixed

is

source in general

motion of the

will be to find the velocity potential for the

is

produces outside of

and in which a source of

meant that
it

By

fluid exists.

fluid in

the image of the

collocation of sources or sinks within the sphere

which

a fluid motion which in conjunction with the original source has

no normal motion across the sphere

in other words, that "

mass " of positive or

negative sources which produces across the surface of the sphere a normal flow equal

When

and opposite to that of the outside source.

this "

image

" is found, the

way

is

when two spheres are fixed in the

and thence, by distributing over the surface of the spheres sources proportional
the normal motion of the surface at that point, to determine the velocity potential

theoretically clear to finding the velocity potential

fluid,

to

when the two

the image

is,

spheres are moving in any manner.

as is well

known, a negative point

the case of fluid motion the image

point, together

with a negative

is,

as will

In the case of an electrical point

at the inverse point of the other.

In

be shown, a positive source at the inverse

from this point to the centre of

line sink stretching

the sphere.
Fig.

2.

Take

source S.

be

6.

1.

the centre of the sphere for origin and let the axis of

Let the radius of the sphere be

Then the

a,

pass through the

and the distance of S from the centre

velocity potential will clearly be symmetrical about

velocity potential for the unit source at

S can be expanded

J-

J-

aA - 2br cos 6 + 6*
2

7
h

.qo

2,1l

in,

6 +1

the series
J-^

S.

The

45

THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES IN A FLUID.

MR. W. M. HIOKS ON

which holds good

for points

sphere at any point

Expand the

where r<b, whence when r=a(<b) the flow

into the

(0) is

potential due to the sources, &c, inside the spheres in a series of

spherical harmonics

Hence the flow

out of the sphere, for points just outside,

is

and

must be equal

this

whence

to the other,

+1

/&^
Y = ~TTiU' p andYo=
?i

"

and
a? n+l

n-\-l (pr) n+l

Consider
/y_>^_p /X<a

^l__

the potential for a source // at a point on

the centre.

inside the sphere at a distance \ from

Then
rv

Comparing
a
u=;X

OS

this

ju/\

xw+1

with the expression for V, we see that

if

we make

9.

X=-

and

source

-* r ^+i -

a
b

?*.6.
?

V is

1 rA

^/r*

2\r cos + X

a- J

rf\

^/r2 2Xr cos

a3

the potential of a source at the distance

y-

from

+ X2

whose magnitude

is

equal

two spheres

MR. w. m. hicks on the motion of

d
to - of the source at S, together with a line sink extending from
,

in
^

a FLUID.

459
eft

to the distance ,

the line density of the sink being - X source at

Performing the integration for V,

for a unit source at

JL

*%***

V=:
^=^13+
SP ^

s/t*- 2br

whole velocity potential

cos

-f 5

.1*

s/r* - 2\r cos + X

\r cos + \/r2 2\r cos # + A,3

where

find finally that the

is

-L.

we

S.

r(l

cos 6)

X= -o
easy to verify this value for

It

is

If

we apply

<f>

by

direct differentiation.

the same method to find the velocity potential for the motion of fluid

inside a sphere under the influence of a source inside, the integral becomes infinite

unless the source

The

is zero.

generated within the sphere

it

case

is

of course physically impossible since if fluid

But

must pass through the boundary.

an equal sink at any point within, the motion

is

if

we

is

also place

then possible, and the expression

S being the source let S' be its inverse point with reference to the
sphere, and S" any point on the line S S' produced to infinity.
Then the " image of

becomes

finite.

77

is

a source

infinity.

with

~~-

Let S x be an equal

where
3.

In

finite derivatives.

^^
#,

sink,

fact,

1 ,a *
-

SP

line distribution of sinks of line density -

and a

at S'

Q 4 are the angles

ST

'

OP

The expression found

its

image and that

the potential at

S^

then

b,

1.

S\V

loo*

of

S' to

will produce potentials

be

will

OS'-rcos0 + ST l-cos0,
cos 0, + S\Y 1- cos

B OS'i-r

makes respectively with

for

from

the motion

when

S,

there

is

S^

a single source outside the

sphere enables us to deduce the velocity potential for a single sphere moving through

an

infinite fluid.

Taking the direction of motion as the axis of x from which we

9

suppose 6 measured, we

may

will

arrange a surface distribution of sources proportional to

6dS and integrate over the surface of the sphere, or we may employ the simpler
method used in a paper in the Quarterly Journal of Mathematics for March, p. 128.
The first gives us the velocity potential when the sphere moves by an integration
cos

'

The other gives directly the potential, when the sphere is

Putting a
fixed and the fluid moves past it, by means of an easy differentiation.

source at #=& and an equal sink at #=

&, let these move off to infinity, increasing
which would be laborious.

indefinitely as they do so, yet so that the

is finite*

In the limit

we

motion at a

finite distance

from the origin

clearly get the case of fluid flowing past the sphere.

THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS OK

460

We

b~ go :-=&
6^

have to find the limit when

A FLUID.

IN.

of

^>= /a

yV 2br cos + P
3

S"\ /"V

""

to

C6

When

is

large

limit

+\

1 +
+ r cos 6 + v^^+ 2\r'cosT+ A?'l
_-

and X small

-~2\T cos

shown

this is easily

0= fd
Hence the

4-

&3

1_

X r cos + \/r
A,

\/r^ 4- 2&r cos 9

(9

2r cos 6'+

cos 6

-__

cos

to be

+r+
^

is

^X
0= A( 2ar+~j
7

If the velocity of the fluid at an infinite distance parallel to x

origin,

infinite fluid,

and the potential function

The well-known form

4.

If

now

of

extremely complicated,

line sink

<f>

two spheres A,

images resulting from the

this in

^ towards the

then

Also impressing on the whole system a velocity

an

is

the sphere moves with velocity u in

is

a?ux

dhi cos 9

in this case.

are present in the fluid,

first

e.g.,

u,

the

image
first

in

and we consider the

image

is

a source and line sink

and line sink, (2) the image of the

and an area source bounded by this

consists of (l) a source

(segment of a

two straight

lines

circle),

from the centre.

It

is,

series of

A, we see that they very rapidly become

the image of

first line

sink or a

last line sink

therefore, hopeless in this

way

and

to find first

the velocity potential for a source in the presence of the two spheres, and thence the

any motion of the spheres.

potential for

any

direction*

If

whose axis

the introduction of

lies in

will be to

lying inside

the spheres

when we have found the

and B.

A fixed

were not present the velocity potential of

to a doublet at its centre,

effect of

But now suppose

and

B moving

in

would be that due

the direction of the motion of B.

The

produce a series of images of this doublet,

This method dispenses with the necessity of integrating over

velocity potential for the doublet.

In the special

TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

case where

is

moving

and reduces to a

in the line joining the centres, the

single doublet.

For

IN

A FLUID.

46

image becomes simplified

us find the image of a doublet whose axis

let

passes through the centre of a sphere.

The doublet

is

formed by allowing an equal source and sink P, P' to indefinitely

approach one another, their magnitudes increasing indefinitely, yet so that /x.PP'
finite.

Now

on the line through the centre of the sphere, and let Q, Q'
Then the image of P, P'
moreover, let the limit of /x,.PP'=&.

let P, P' lie

be their inverse points

consists of a source

~p

at Q, a sink

-QQ', together with the sink at Q',

may

at Q',

therefore Q' outside Q) along

F, and

approach to

is

line source (supposing

is

outside

Q' with line density -, also the quantity

equal and opposite to the source at Q, and

it

doublet at Q, whose magnitude

we

Now as P, P'
P becomes the

the limit of

Qp*^{^

aP

Op'pP'
/

i.e.,

and a

added to the sink at Q', when they become equal

coincidence so do Q, Q', and the image of the doublet k at

suppose

is

one of opposite sign and magnitude

a \3

("--)

OP3>

that at P.

The same

result can

shown to follow from the analytical formula in 2.

The case where the doublet has its axis perpendicular to the line joining the centres
has more analogy with the case of a source. The image here consists of a doublet of
the same sign at the inverse point, with a trail of doublets of opposite sign extending
easily be

to the centre.
Fig. 2.

Let, as before, P,

F be equal source and sink, Q, Q' their inverse points with respect

to the circle.

Then at Q, Q' we have a source and sink

of

magnitude

~, and

in the limit

we have

a doublet

^QQ _^

OP

Also,

if

B, B/ be corresponding points on

MDCCCLXXX.

3 O

VOP

Q,

Q',

we have

a line density

t
--at
a

462

MR. W. M. HtOKS ON

R and

-f

V>
at R'.

THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES

A FLUID.

IF

Consequently when P, P' approach indefinitely so do R, R', and

CO

we get a

i.e.,

Q, whose line magnitude at any point

line doublet along

R is

the limit of

proportional to the distance from the centre.

Fig. 3,

5.

Supposing that the positions of

known when

nitudes are
find

an expression

from A, and

<rn

<j>

<f/n

A is

the sphere

for the kinetic energy.

the distance of the n

th

moving along the

[</>]

is

the part of

the value of

Then denoting the

fi,

T due

to

<j>

at

<j>

any point

A,

(a.ff)

2T=
J

cos

on the sphere.

{&

Now ^=2^+2<'

+ 2p aeos0 + /VT
tt

2p na/j,y

rf

+ a,ft)iid/A__
+ p* + 2 pap,}

(p

^i{c<?

rff+i
cZpJ

ytfrd^tf,

^y'tt3 -f /0 3 +

2/Xty&

zrd(p+ a)(p*+ a *-P a )-(p^\a )(p*+ a2 +P a)}

When

p=/>^ p w <a and the above becomes

by T

0d6

Now
+1

proceed to

kinetic energy

be

will

we

be the velocity potential of the motion

<f>

2T= - f[> \fdS=z - 27ra?u\X<l>] sin

where

Let pu be the distance of the n image in

image in B. Also let the magnitudes of the

[i

<f>

line

tl1

m vn respectively. Let
due to n and vn
the parts of

doublets there be

and

the images of the doublets and their mag-

all

and

TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

Similarly

when p~cru

<rn

>a

and

it

A FLUID.

IN

463

becomes
d 2a

4a

dp'Sp?''

3p

and

2T= fir.u% p n -\-^ira?u%\

oo

Also
sphere

[jl

ahi

the original doublet

and

if

Vn

<Tn

be the mass of

fluid displaced

by the

A
2T=pi # 1+S

f^n

<x

i*

But from what has been shown before

w/* ;r
cr

S^w

Hence

2T=|M^
By

we

have, if c

is

+ 327(-

the distance between the centres,

w
^n

(X n

crn

\3

f pn-i,

fin-l

Also
a"

Pn= crn

=
(T

Pn\

Hence

Pw
l\3n

a/

PnPn\
I

-l^Ml

Vtt

(cpn^) ....

Pi

p-^c

(e

/*

Again
a*

Hi'

crn

Pn~\

whence
c

Pnpn~i

__ 3
c

a2
'

c'

-^

MR. W. M. HICKS ON

464

THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES

Put /o=w+#, and choose x

make the

so as to

IN

A FLUID.

constant term vanish.

To

find

we have
<x

St

3
-f c

&

x-\-a?=0

Fig. 4.

Now
Cj Og.

let

C C3
{

Put Oj 02

2a.

and

let

=r +r
1

Ba,j

\ + rl a_\ + r1
a
XTj + a

The equation

to determine

rx

-X

r3

-\

\ + r

&

x now becomes
x^-2r l x+a?=0

roots of which are ^ifcX.

Choosing the positive

sign, the equation of differences

UnUn ^

Now

a 2^
\

as =a5 1 a? 2 whence writing -

^2

for

"

un

a2^
wn~T\^l~~
#i ~~ w 1

K+

we

by q x

~~P

Then

q% be the similar constant for the sphere B.

ft= X + r 6

2)

being any point on the sphere A, denote the constant ratio

9i

The

the middle point of

Inen

OA=^\ +a -^-^^-=r

Further,

be the inverse points of the spheres, and

==:

KI

get

^(c #y

becomes

(4:)

MR. W. M. HICKS

ON THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES IN A FLUID.

Here
C "~~ Xa

a ~f"
2

J\j

""""

A>

?2*
C

"~~ JO-i

in

and
Tl

Xo2

Whence

writing

r-,

x x (c-x^

(rl

(E q 2 )vn

*]

+\)(r^ + \)

% ~q
~
?i
c

fa + X)(r8 + \)

and
vn

=Aq

2.

2X

and

^=og +
x

+ Ag 3w

2\

But
72=0

^=0
"" X

-~= ri
.A=
2\ X r
2X(r
ll

+ X)

2X^ 2

and
2\

* =a 2i^lZT=
q ~^(f

o
2

(-i-^i_- j-gg*.

Also

c p=r +r^ (r +X) + il

&

---,.

"c-()

l gj-y

j-i
saJ
=?~
f
._

and
8

/*

2*

Pn

-y

2/y2

-2/v2w-2
l-gr'g*"-'

2l

24-2

= fa+X)
.

2X

JPn\

_j (i-grW

2>i

465

TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

466

A FLUID.

IN

Whence

2T=iM> 1+3(1 -qr")

9'

1
.

We shall denote, in

what

1A
~9i9

\*-w

follows,
n

(i-gr3 ) 3 2r

6.

If the sphere

fluid will

-y

9l

AB, the

also moving- along the line

1

is

kinetic energy of the

be of the form

Q i-V-i ]

Cvl

+ 3Q(^j +iM %

{ 1

+3Q(g2 .g)} +L%%

It remains, then, to find the value of L.

belonging to the images of

Bs

motion taken over the sphere A, together with that belonging to the images of

As

It is easily seen that

depends on the part of

Let now dashed

motion taken over the sphere B.

of the

over

is

xjl

system, then using the results in

-girVriZii
But

as before,

<f>

LL

5,

remembering that now the

(

apply to the images, &c,

letters

the part of

^-*T 3"7T<% U-iZiQ

original doublet is in B,

V n -i
\

VA 3 5%2

c)

and

=
a%3

2wum
"1*2

ji

'"'

^i

77

and

_J

v
/^

-l

P wp

-i

n\

(C -/)'_!)

Now

,=Ofc+

4'

A.

P'$

(c-/?'i).

as before
p',

due to the integration

~71

Pi

f*l

MR. W. M. HICKS

and determining

THE MOTION

OIST

TWO SPHERES

OS*

IN

A FLUID.

467

a2

by the condition that pi=~~ we

c

shall find

ci/JLlUL

ac p',^

1 g3*

an d

L 1 =-2flrw %Si
1

1 g*
1

==~16^ %X%f^ A

\8

Similarly L,2

= same quantity.

Therefore, denoting

by M' the mass of fluid contained

L = 47m

t%Q'(g)

in a sphere of radius unity

= SWu^Q^q)

where
Q'(gr)=2i [rz^nj

Tables for

and Q' are given at the end of the paper

w)

for equal spheres,

and

for the

a=2&.

case of

A is moving perpendicularly to B A, the original doublet is one

Suppose A is moving along the axis
perpendicular to the line B A, as also its images.
Then the normal velocity at a point P on the sphere A
of x, A B being the axis of
7,

When

the sphere

%.

is

v sin

cos x>

a 0x) being the polar coordinates of P; and the kinetic energy

is

given

by
[re

2T=
Let

fx

part of

[%n

[<]

sin 3 6 cos

dddx

be the magnitude of a doublet at a point distant p from the centre of A; the

<f)

depending on this

is
fir

{r

and the part of 2T depending on this

sin 6 cos
3

/>

is

+ 2pr

cos 0}*

468

MH. W. M. HlCltS

ON THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES IN A

'

'IT

sin 3 6 cos 3

27T

ixa?v

sin 3 #e#

"rr

[jL7ra?v

{&

integral of which

%dQd%

{a 3 + /} 3 + 2/xx cos 8}

j<y

The

FLUID.

3
/>

2/)6fc

cos 0}

is

2
a
-^[(p +a ){(p+a)-(p-a)}-pa{p+a+0>-a)}]

Writing

and

cr

for

fx 9

p for doublets outside the sphere A, we obtain

4

^tt^v

47ra3 z>u

andt

-~

ocr

whence

2T= M^S^j "^+7;

a
a"
Now

any

v at the distance

cr

produces an image in

a
consisting of a doublet v I -

or
CI*

at a distance
line

magnitude

image

together with a line sink stretching from this to the centre, whose

is

aa

Hence the whole amount

distance from the centre.

of the

is

Now

every

fi

except

[i

a<r\<T J

\<r/

\(7

forms part of an image of some v

and of that

v only*

XxtJlxOtJ

^^ AsLi

2j

"""""

0.
i

or

or

and

2T=^{/*o+3S/t}
C^

^iM^Ml+32
The S extending
8,

If

to the whole mass of images inside A.

has also a motion along

no term depending on u v;
9

kinetic energy
If

v l9

moves

The

(7)

for it is clear that if the sign of v is changed,

must be the same

it,

has

then the

as before.

also perpendicularly to

coefficient of v%

A, together with one perpendicular to

will

A,

will

have additional terms in v22 and

9

be analogous to that for v* whilst that for v l9 v2 as

9

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

in the case of

As

spheres.

u l9 u 2 consists of two
,

in the case of

FLUID.

469

%7TV 2 t

dashed, letters referring to the motion of B,

cr' <t

this coefficient 1/ is

fi

and

IN

depending on the integration over the two

parts,

L\v =i7rv l \i/+v

respectively,

TWO SPHERES

/x,

-*']
images within

v referring to

denoting distances from the centres of

and B.

A and B

This

may

be

reduced as in the former case to

the

/x'

being the images in

of B's motion perpendicular to

of A's motion perpendicular to

v Q9

/x,

B, and v the images in

B.

1/^0= 4:7rv v %
where

V*
1

47rV 2 ja

vo

My

are the original doublets at the centres of B, A,

l\c

/*o=

P,0'

i.e.

arv-.

whence
V

/*'

L^fM^fJ-j+fM^
in

which

last the ratios

*--,

do not contain v l9 v2

(8)

M/

In the case of general motion of two spheres, each will have three components of
velocity, u l9 v l9 w Y %, v% w 2 and, in general, the expression for the kinetic energy
\

we can

will contain 21 terms.

In the case in question

of 12 of these vanish.

For consider the term in u l9

the energy, from the symmetry of the motion, must

the direction of

w2

And

this

can only happen

if

easily see that the coefficients

w2 suppose

v l9

l9

u% v% all zero;
9

we reverse
n^w^O. In this

clearly be unaltered if

the coefficient of

u^ v^

v^ w^ u 1 u29 v l v29

way we

find the terms all vanish except those in

w w3

Also from symmetry the coefficients of v^ v v 1 v2 are equal respectively to

the coefficients of

In what

w^ w^
9

iv L

has gone before

w2

iv^

we have expressed

the coefficient of

u^

%b^9

u x u2

in terms

and distance of the spheres, and have shown

of the other terms depend on the images of the motion, whereby

of quantities determined

how the coefficients

we can without much

by the

radii

approximate to their values when the distance of

the spheres is large compared with their radii or the distance between their
We pass on to
surfaces is large compared with the radius of one of the spheres.

MDCCCLXXX,

difficulty

3 P

TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M, HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

470

consider the case where one sphere

value of the coefficients of

case of

two cylinders the

v-f

inside the other.

is

and v l

given in

v.2 is

terms in v?

coefficients of the

u Y u% and v l v2 are equal and

But

opposite.

the image of a doublet (or a source)

this

FLUID.

approximation to the

v* are equal,

due to the

is

It is remarkable that in the

15.

An

IN

while those of

fact that in a cylinder

a single doublet, whatever be the direction of

is

the axis of the original doublet.

9.

out,

S x be

If S

and we are

in a line
left

through the centre the

with an image source and

Let
supposing S to be outside S r
Then
doublet whose strength is /x.
i=
=Y-L.-^
bbi
Lbd

strength

S'S'

images of

infinite trail of

and a

sink,

line sink

2 cuts

between them,

now S and S x approach together and become a

we shall get a single doublet as its image whose

ux$

as in the former case.

once from the case of the external doublet in

This

considered as the image of

4,

we might have deduced

at
its

image.
Fig.

If

we

5.

proceed to find the kinetic energy, as in the previous case,

led to the

same/orm

for the result, viz.

2T=p

when

tt

A is

+ 321

00

we must

clearly be

moving with a velocity u from

Ml
fa
p,

where

\L n

relations

are the strengths of the doublets inside

between the

/x,

p, cr

are given

l^)i

by the equations

(a, b

vn'
a"

C+(Tn

>ncr,

= C+

p n-\

whence
a"

Pn

2
C

+ pn-i

+ C?-Wpn + a -p-i + =0
2

p ,pn-\
7

"

CI

alone.

But

in this case the

being the radii of sphere)

MR. W. M. HICKS
which

differs

ON THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES'

from the equation

for external spheres in

We may therefore use the

of n.

having

IN

FLUID.

471

p for p for all values

same solution and writing here

OA= v /X + a
8

v/ X2 +6 3

-^H^=c

^_

QB= &

a?

=7-0

c=r r
-

a
rz

rx

+\

r%

+^

q= Si
1-5
p=(^i-X)j
which

is

the same form as before, only q

And, as

is

2'M

^Y

the inverse of

its

former value.

before,

2t=|m # l+sa-ft^ru1

=iM ^{l+3Qfe.ft)}
1

table for

10.

make

Q when 6= 2a

given at the end of the paper.

is

It will be well here, before passing on to the consideration of the motion, to

a short digression on the properties of the functions

and

QV

In the

first

place

and Q' functions are both convergent, even

up to the case when the spheres touch, or q=l for the ratio of the nth term to the
n th is

it is easily

seen that the series for the

r wry*
and

this is always less

spheres touch.

than q 3 which
,

is less

than unity, except in the case when the

ih

In this particular case the n

1n

dq

'dq v

3 P 2

term tends to the limit

ON THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS

472

and the

do

The value of

series is still convergent.

-r~ is

A FLUID.

IN

when

the limit

\=0

of

h~ h _._ a + i
(

<

Hence when the spheres

q=s:
b

x=

if

are in contact

|3

n(a + b)

The values

\3

^,3

= -^X5

n 4- x.

-f b

may

of this

g r ( 1'+).

(9)

be found from Legendre's table of the

log r-functions.

x=^

If the spheres be equal

and
1

vJ

2Lf

,^

(2n +

-i

\'i

lf

*""""
*

Now
1
=l+-+-+
O
1

S3

.... =1-202056903159

Li

whence
/

When

=|S

= 1*051799790264

the spheres are equal

g2

== ""*

in

case (1 denote either q^ or

q1

Q=(l-2
11.

We may

s 8
)

2m

\ 3

term in terms of

r,

in the form
r

2i

we

get at once from the relations

IU=
u

_f

2*

?i

>=u/

(r2

suppose,

(2), (3), (4)

27utu b

which, since

J]

ll

a.

+ X) w+1 (r2 + X) w - (r X) tt+1 (^3 - x

r%=r 1\ and r-^

=a

2Xa>% u
(

r i + x)

ri

+ ^) "~

ft3

w
}

2r l-04+3

easily express the general

Q=<

ri * x)

ri

^) a

a,

b.

For writing

it

TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

IN

A FLUID.

473

No^
r2

rr l -af=-

+ a2 b 2

=r

-a 2

a?

ft

=7^ suppose,

also

W = ^2 _
We shall

further write 4a 2 6 2

a 2^,2

+ ag -5 2

(r 2

2
)

-4ft 2 r 8

_^-4a
&
_
2

=a4

Then
uu

rx i

2\cin bn
\n

rffi

+ \r
)*

^ \r)
9,

\ +\\

x
+\r )* + - Xr

(--

l\ 2

\H

2 u an b

2rr^t<
2j9

+ l w 2p

+Si 2p k x
2p

^^P (2\rfp

2 n a u bn

2 n a n bit
.

71

2p + l n 2p

~
(n+l)x*+2(n2p)ci2 }x%l iP~\x**y'
{

Vn

arid

v=2S

b ( i)'

n 2p

2p + l

\q

\pq

{n+ lx2 +2()i-~2p)a2 }x^-^-Za^

Denote
n
ij)=q

by

2p +

n 2p Yq p q

S.0

Then
V=S-I|nS +li? .cc

-^+2S. a2^-^- a }a^

f/

Let

+ V ^-(l-v/
/

j/

(l

^ =^

n{n-l)(n-2)

2^/^

72,

+ 2p + l w 2p

x^+

Then

bind in

S w#0 = value of

7/

S ;a = value of

~f~

when

a? is

& when

a?

is

=2

/ '~"

l=-(w

1)2

general

S= value

Now g<n.

of

<%

when 05= 1

Hence

l__^l_z = o when ,x=

r

clx i

\ /,#
V

M "" S

(11)

TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

474

IN A FLUID.

Therefore

Also

we

see that vn

When one
12. When

sphere

is

is

1_
ii,q'

'2\q

^/x

_dx2

^=1

a rational integral function of (r 2 cftb 2 )

inside the other the series for

convergent.

is still

the spheres are concentric

X= oo

Ty=.r^==. oo

q,

arid

Q=

Of

'a\s j3_0S

whence
^

#d

&

which agrees with the result found by Stokes in

When

the inner touches the outer

Q x

\=0

^a; dxeP

log,,

10

r(l+a?)

where
cc=
is

an integer

finite expression,

&

= m say

Q=m
and

]S 8 -S 1

=m

2020569

3J

in this case

m1
a=- b
7

In the particular cases

a=^&
a=f6

(12)

to.

r(l +as)

as

1843 before referred

his paper of

= -ri5129^
^ log

If

and

(n + x) 3

Q= -61645
Q = 1'08054

%m 1
'

(13)

THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES IN A FLUID.

MR. W. M. HIOKS ON
If

is

of the form

475

2m +1

3*

Q=(2m+1)

ml

\2n +

= (2m+l)M -0517998 VI 2n + i)
Also a

finite expression,

and

in this case

2m 1,

a= 2m + 1 A
In the particular cases

a=6
a==f&

The expressions
2

a +?>
13,

for

Q= '39859
Q= 84535
#

directly in terms of r 9 a, b are the

same functions of

as the corresponding expressions for external spheres are of r %

b
2

2
.

The

When

series for Q' may, as in the case of Q, be shown to be convergent

the spheres are in contact

ah \ 3
k5q

Also the general term in

6 is given

r, a,

by

(2a&) w

^w

2n

-~ 1

an h n

rS( l)^^^^- 4 *" 2

n
2>+l

(14)

a-\-h.

n 2p 1

It is easily seen that both Q,

JL

%)

for external spheres

diminish as x

i.e.,

increases.

Hence

for external spheres

1

When one
Hence

sphere

is

dQ dQf
-7-

-7-7

dr

dr

are both negative.

Q decreases as

inside the other,

x increases i.e.,

as r diminishes,

in this case -7- is positive.

x
ar

The values

of the first three terms of Q, Q' are

ah

forQ
/ItA

__

I
Jyi

w% 3

s
(

y"

11

as873
&

fi y
/

> *'

a?

+a

- 2a% - a%%

a5*

v.
and

for

Q'

'ab\3

r )

/a}W\^
\

rx? J

a?
*

\r(x

4i

a%

2
)

(16)

14.

We

term of

may

easily find

then

x,

it

may

jf,

be shown that, x denoting

a

%2 1 + 3#(
1 #)
__L____

aPdr

both of which are of the order

But though

The nth term

this

th

term

positive,

.._

of -r1
dr

d (Q

a?)

when n=l the

can be shown that ~i

dr\

-.

Q') at contact

~-

--

is finite.

r,

be positive.

Though

able to prove

it

and
I

if this

r,

positive
is x

is

of the order -.

Hence here

down

y(Q ^Q

is

it

\
j

would always

the case, I have not been

the spheres are at a great distance the values of

terms, and

Q^Q'

only on the term of Q', which

also the differential coefficient is positive.

and when the radius of one sphere

7 /

and in both cases the value

is

Hence, on the whole,

it is zero.

curves representing the magnitudes of the

in the case of equal spheres,

O'
co

first

Further, at contact

always.

takes place continuously,

When

and Q' depend only on their

But by consider-

expanding them in ascending inverse powers of

have convinced myself that such

culated and laid

Q^Q
a

in general.

Also when n>2 the

is finite.

increase with

j^

sign depends on the value of x.

a negative quantity, whilst at an infinite distance

other,

at contact are

dr

dr

+ O3 - 1)(6# + 4m--+ar>

and therefore the whole sum

rJ /

must

-p,

-=,

ing the values of Q, &c, in terms of

r, it

the case, the value of

is

^__

of the order
is

/'yj.v

Hence the values

-.

+ l)(n- 4) -f 3 (1 -#) fw +

1
is

i-

ang

is

n* (n

which

a{n-\~xY

cQ'w

= oo.

w th

+b

n(n+l)(n l + 3x)

dr

A FLUID.

IN

If Q* denote the

at contact of the spheres.

dQ n __

7i

TWO SPHERES

ME. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

4:76

for

T.IQ

is

have

cal-

and Q'-functions

twice that of the

- lQ')

comes out positive

In what follows we shall suppose that this quantity

is

for all distances.

always positive, but

it

must be

understood throughout as on]y proved, for the case of equal spheres and the case in

which the radius of one sphere is double that of the other.

15. Although the rapidly increasing complexity of the successive images when the
spheres move perpendicularly to their line of centres would lead us to regard the

MR. W. M. HICKS OK THE MOTION OF

problem of finding the energy in

TWO SPHERES

A FLUID.

IN

we can

this case as almost hopeless, yet

approximation to any number of images with less labour than might at

carry the

first

sight

For suppose we wish to take into account 2n images in A, due to A's

appear.

motion, that

is

on the whole

We need only first calculate the

4?i reflections.

tion of doublets for a general position of the original one, in the

amount

find the

of the

We

n images.

first

employ our

Suppose we proceed as

doublet in

amount

result to find the

first

of the second portion

indefinitely

and calculate the density

at a distance p

in A, say/(r) at a distance r,

and thence

its

and

first,

We

amount.

we do by

this

n th image, and

by a

single integra-

we suppose an

original

of the parts of the first

the density at any point of the second image, regarding

different parts of the

distribu-

image in A, and

different parts of the

we were going on

if

?i

th

can then treat the second portion of the

2n images as the images resulting from the

tion.

477

it

as

employ

image

this result to find

made up

of images of the

using the expression found before, sub-

amount f(r)dr at a distance r, and integraimage.

Thus we find the distribution for the

stituting for the original doublet at p, an

ting with respect to r over the

second image and

together.

tribution

its

first

amount, and therefore the amount

now from

this,

and amount of the

first

Starting

the

for

and proceeding in the same way, we

four images, then of the

two images

first

find the dis-

first eight,

and

so

om

Thus to find the distribution of the 2^th image we only require jp+ 1 operations, and to
Even with this method of proceeding the work
find its amount only p operations.
would be exceedingly laborious. But for all practical purposes the first two images in
A, i.e., the motion due to four reflections, will be sufficient except when the spheres

We proceed then to find

are in contact.

the values of the coefficient of v^ and of v y

a doublet k at a distance p Y from A, whose axis

is

to this degree of approximation.

Suppose we have at

perpendicular to
i.

inside

B.

First image in B.

Then

we have

at

l5

inverse point in B, a doublet

its

(^7) h

k
= T'z^zr.
b BP
7*

and a

line doublet thence to B,

whose

line density
J

ii.

First image in A.

The image of this in A consists of two parts, that depending

on the single doublet in B, and that depending on the

(a)

Image ofQ h

A doublet at P

a negative line doublet from

(/3)

Image of

doublet

P2

to

AP = -r^ra

whose

line doublet.

whose magnitude

line density

<^

k r
- \ T'^f
dr.
)

(1)
v
'

That

is

from

P2

R is
3 Q

to

) h,

and

B we

have a negative

a negative
doublet at a distance from

whose density at a distance

MDCCCLXXX.

t~-^:

This has

(ct

b \3

'Pop") 77T

negative line doublet.-At a distance r from

k r
= t'^t
Br

is

we have a

A= c($ r =R

negative line doublet

478

k
//'

ct

ni

IN A FLUID.

r/rf
ell

bBF^lll

fi~~rl

and

TWO SPHERES

MB. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

R
dr

a"

<R"~R3
k

(2)

The doublet

a line doublet image of each portion.

line doublet

cRa?

density

.'.

from a distance R'=-

Hence the density

Bl\

~ dr produces a

a*

whose

to A,

c-~~

in

at a distance R,

due to

line density
J

this part,

positive

rdr R
~ abk __
Bl\ cr
_

from the whole

line doublet

B
ibq;

a*ab

BP

Hence

R
BP

R
XEVJ AQ
& \3
B

AQi VBPJ

the whole

1_

clog

aft

'

\R

R from A

cRa3
ab BP

\s

finally the density at a distance

h I

bind

k
ab

rdr

1 4,

'

^yAQ^BBj/

AQ

1}

6'

kBl-^

ft
Rem
s
E
^

a3 c

"
1

So that the whole amount of the image

\AQ r BP J

w
8

"

or substituting for

BQ,

BQj.a

<x&

'

,21

ft
+3:W"iclog
E
aJ BI

0-Y &.BP!
aJoLAQjVBlV +Sf

logf-on-

BP

amount
*

of the resultant line doublet

5.BP1 .AQ 1

8"

*6.BP 1 .AQ 19

is

k+ H.m\ AQ^ C 2BQl

&c, in terms of p 1

*\(a-&- e

pJ

*" t

"46(c-6 s -cp 1 ) 8

/c

TWO SPHERES

MB. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

For the

first

IN

A FLUID.

479

image in A, pi=0

Hence

The density

any point of the

at

|3

ffi

first

image

together with a doublet

^^
p

(17)

is

M-S*

IV

*>7/^2_.7m
2b(e*-bJ

Tcb

***

a?{c%-2W)

ab

PI

log
fe

p%

kAkV

A; at a distance
h
p.
p%

The amount of that part of the second image

in

which depends on the

latter is

&& \ 3

i1

+2&(^&^^

_j_ Cft J

c 21)%

and the amount of the part due to the portion of the former
hh\(

\8

ab

at a distance

R is

a3( c s_ 2 j2_ c R)

whence the whole amount due to the former

^JoLC^-^-cB)

aV

a%{c^W)
-& a -cK)

2(c 8

'

2&(c-&-dft)

26

V{$-~W)

ka?b

log *~

&~&R

_j8

<$R

4^(cP-6*)L(<*-J-cR)

<*-6*-cR

,ft

lOff

&0- 3

lb
rJ"R

c*-8*-cIfc

46* Jo
/ca3 p.,

+ 4^1
fc254

Z?a

4C3(C2_ &3_ C/J ^2

|
I

l0

"

Then the above

<%v

2
/;>

+5 2)
-5 2 -cE

5(c 2

25 2 -c 2

(5

-2c2 )

fi

- " I

cp 2 l

fe2 /* 1

>

4( 2_J3)
.

p%~YZ3*

j"

2& 2

+2rt1log

Now

d
5 (e )
""
2 -& 2
-cE) 2
^EL(c

p,

Bay.

is

3 Q 2

463

*=
log*

-xv^

cfe

&

Hr-^dR
V-J
8

480

ON THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS

2&

ha?

4c*\l-V

+ 4c

.^+^+2(c-6)log(l-)

Wherefore the whole amount of the second image in

\3

2
/fa.

iff+ ?$

_'^

S\ 1

.3

&a2

2 (a
1-a +

'

A FLUID,

IN

a?

6 2 \ O0

<x

a3

46\

log x

b*

y8*

a2

a3 P 1 log x

(18)

45 3
a?

a2

Substituting for

Ms

Mi

and

we get the part

in (7)

Interchanging a and

the second image in A.

T depending

of

on v^ correct to

the part depending on v %2

6,

6a

ox

,.,

(writing ^==-^

is

+2

\l-~a?

/3

r*

is

found.

In the case of equal spheres

#'

Mi_x
2

Mo

fla?

M2_ i_P3_ jl

ft4g2

0g(c8--2& 8 )

+ 2(c*-a
+(c

'

8 8
)

4'

6
a'

(c

-a

lk

r4
<r

3 3 3
c
)

+ 2P

,,2N2
3
4\f,2
(c -<)'

Mo

a'

pa_Li

2(c 3

'

-a^2
)
3

log(l

^cfa
'

To find the value of the

amounts of the images in B due
16.

The

first

image in

of k in

coefficient of the

at a distance p l

doublet thence to B, whose line density

The whole amount

is

BP
fc

To

first

find the

p!=0 and
amount

to find the

is

is

BP
b

h at

and a negative

line

k
"r-pp"-

therefore
\3

For the

term in v l v2 we need

motion of A, and vice versa.

to the

t-v

~I

2
x

BP,

Pl

/J\8

=i( -)

of the second image in

B we

start

from the

first

(ctb
doublet thence to A, whose line density

is

b.BF x \

5 \s

&R
^

image

in

TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

The amount

in

from the former

affi

l(c-ft)(c-P)

is

b
9

4ac
Aft

1,

c3

Cft
2

_c

-&3 -c/) 3

ft)'

(e -~
^_^2_ &

4$#

2_ &

(c

<m

c(e -

g
j

a9

1c

~2> 3

J2

+ uS

--ft

3)S

a6 a
3

c
l

3 3

3 3

a
c

**!
_

ft

4ac

"^
Pft

j_n n ,/~ft__

ft

*B

/>

3
logR c -&

JoV--B,

BS|

So

481

is

l
and from the second

A FLUID.

IN

also

2
I>,

Whence from

a3 &
^(c3

~-

<

4&c

-a

3'
(

7/ +

a3 & 3

'a&\ 3

_c(c

a8 & 3

(c 3

r
3 3
)

a3Z> 2

8c

"*"

~"^

c*a*

(c

-~a 3 --5 3 ) 3

-a )(c -& )
3

c 2 (a3

+5 s ~2a^ 2 -~c2 -^"1+

c
c
)

Similarly can be found the coefficient of v 2

Motion in

When

2-a3 -6 9 )3"

w(^

otLm

1 7.

(8)

L'=2^(^) +
#M'

'

-J-.

#4
-& 3

when one sphere moves

(19)

inside another.

the line of centres.

the two spheres are moving in the line of centres the kinetic energy

given by

2T=A ^ +A % 2B%t%
3

where

A =m +im
1

rVi
g =r 3ivr
M'Q'te)

jl

+ 3Q^.gj|

is

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

482

and

m m/
x,

displaced
It

to

is

spheres,

by

M'

TWO SPHERES

A FLUID.

IN

respectively denote the mass of the sphere (A), the mass of fluid
t

and the mass of fluid in a unit sphere.

be remarked that A l9 A2> B are functions only of the distance between the
it,

and that therefore

cl

j~+t~ =0.

system, both the energy and

Since no forces are supposed to act on the

tVwct

ttw-j

momentum

Hence

are constant.

2T= constant

+
0%-.

constant

(20)

>

=d

OUct
-/

The

and may be written

(A

We

B) +
tij

by

shall transform these equations

arbitrarily chosen point

Let

once from Lagrange's equation since

last equation also follows at

from the

bT

Othiy

B) u =
%

referring the motion to the velocity of

an,

between the spheres, and the distance between them.

divide the distance

distance of

bT

Oil

-7+77= 0,

origin,

(r)
x
7

in the constant ratio

-
=.
1

Then

if

the

is

-a

its velocity

OCl QC "~p" 0t/

eA^O

**"""

* /

C4J..1.UL

u 2 =u fir

Wjznw+ar,
whence

(A x

+A

2B)m3 + (A ia+ A a ^ +2a/8B)r s

s

+ 2{a(A -B)- 8(A -B)}W-=2T

(Ai+Ag 2B)w+{a(Aj B) ^(A B)}r=cZ
1

^.

(21)

which

we

shall write

pu 2 +qr%-\- 2lur=. 2T
*

pu+lv=-d
whence
(pq P)r^=2Tpd

or
a!

3
*

ZiJi)

IP

which we are to take the positive or negative sign according as the spheres are
The spheres will move as if they repel or
separating or approaching one another.
in

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

attract one another relatively according as

TWO SPHERES

-rf

*s

IN A FLUID,

483

P os iti ye or negative.

This

condition does not depend on their relative motion at any time, but only on their

and the

distance

may

condition

ratio of the constant

energy to the constant momentum.

be expressed, writing

also

~~=P,

The above

as the sign of

P|(A A 3 -B 3)-{(A 3 -B)^+(A -B)^+2(A -B)(A 3 -B)f

1

The

last

always be

term

<p

is

positive, for

since r

is

always

A A B
1?

2,

If

real.

Now

decrease as r increases.

all

F=p=A +A 2B

we put

h must

in the above,

the criterion reduces to the sign of

(A 1 A 3 -B^)|{A 1
i.e.,

since

AA
a

is

+A

-2B}

always positive to the sign of

|(A B)+|(A 3 -B)

1

Now we

are led to conclude from the

argument in

14 that

(A B)
cor
l

are

Hence when k has its greatest possible value the criterion is positive,
so for any other value of k
Hence we are led to conclude that
whatever be the relation between the momentum and energy the spheres always move
always positive.

much more then

is it

so that r tends to decrease, whilst in the case of equal spheres, or that in

radius of one

is

twice that of the other,

we know

for certain that

such

which the
is

the case*

We

cannot prove from this that the spheres move with reference to a fixed point as if
they repel one another, for it might happen that both the spheres might be accelerated,
the extra energy of the motion of the spheres themselves being taken from the fluid

motion

or that both are even retarded.

cannot be accelerated

if

is

positive

We

can easily show, however, that both

and both move in the same

tance in this case increases, and therefore so do

direction, for the dis-

A B, A 3 B,
l

and hence because

(Aj B)%+(A a B)% is constant u l9 u % cannot both increase. Also if r is negative

and u l9 u^ of the same sign the same result holds.
In the case where the spheres are projected. so that the momentum is zero

and the relation between the

given by

2Tp

A^-B

velocities of projection that this

may

be the case

is

TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

484

When

the spheres are equal

U-i

X3L{> ~~~ Jt>

lOq

An

%= %

""~~

IN

A FLUID.

JD

and the motion

is

the same as that of a single

sphere in a fluid bounded by a plane, and moving perpendicularly to the plane.

For this particular case

4T

ni

A+B
or

if

to

denote the velocity relative to the fixed plane r=2i^ and

where

(A+B) u

sphere

is

V^-"^"-^/0

~A + B~

A+B

A+B,

are the values of

U 9

projection.

If the

this ratio are respectively 1*2661,

1*0963,

and u at the point of

projected from contact with the plane

(A+BJosm+^m'+fm'diSg l+-g-S s

=m+m'+ -3030853m'

= m+ "803085m'
and at an

infinite distance

A+B=m+^m'
Hence the

ratio of the limiting velocity to the initial velocity

+ -6061707 2p + l

where p is the density of the sphere.

For densities 0, 1, 10, the values of
1*0143.
is

The greatest value

when m'=0

(no fluid) or

when the density

is

m= oo

is

of the sphere

the ratio then being, as

is

zero,

ought to

it

and the

least

be, unity.

In the case where the spheres are unequal and projected with no momentum from
contact their initial velocities must be opposite and in the ratio of the quantities

m +|m^-|m^

{lD 3 log,

r(l +*/)

+S

3}

and

m + m fw'ifc |D
3

'i

CO ~t~

&

x and y denoting the quantities

CO "j"

log, r( 1

+S

3}

MR. W. M. HICKS OK THE MOTION 0$

If

a=2h, #=-, y=f, and we

D
D
and the

TWO SPHERES

Legendre's tables

find from
3

log 10

r(l+^) = -'485

log 10

r(l+2/)=--275

"of

485

IN A FLUID.

the Eulerian integrals

ratio is
1 P

8 p

which when the

+ -1174
+ '4642

and

densities of the spheres

fluid are equal

becomes

763
Ann,
-
= 0954
*

We

the fluid by eliminating u

find the velocities of the spheres relatively to

between

and

pu-{-lr=d
whence

A B

__rf

and

w9 =

A,
B

<$

Suppose now the same spheres projected with the same

that

now

the spheres have changed places, and let u

the same distances.

cities at

^n

d and r do not depend on the question which

if

a>b

of the

two

see at once from the expressions given for

A >A

distances that
is

we
x

3,

velo-

d A B
|

Now

circumstances except

Then
a 9=

since

2,

initial

u\ be the corresponding

and hence that the foremost

will

is

foremost.

A A2
l5

in terms of the

be most accelerated when

it

the smallest.
If

now u l9

any moment which we may regard as the

u% denote the velocities at

velocity of projection

2T

Writing

for the ratio

-1

tt

2
l

+ A 2itc^ 2Bu u
l

the equation to find

value, is

MDCCCLXXX.

9i

in order that k

may have

a given

TWO SPHERES

MR, W. M> HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

486

This enables us to find within what limits k must

lie,

A FLUID.

IN

f must have real roots,

for

and therefore

or

Hence W may be any positive quantity less than p. The

this is when the spheres are infinitely distant, and then

^=m +m
1

To each value

of

<f

case being opposite.

direction, the
if

two

will correspond

For example,

two
if

when

states will be

^ be negative, the two states will

+-^(m'1

'a)

states of motion, the initial velocities in each

positive, ie,,

is

(a) is

be,

+m

greatest possible value of

both velocities in the same

when

the foremost, and

one in which the

each other, the other in which they begin to

balls

move from each

(6) is

the foremost

begin to move towards

Thus

other.

for

every

given value of k there are four possible states of motion.

If ever

^=0

then ^=0, and the spheres must be at such a distance that

Now, supposing k
least values of

greatest

If

given, this can only happen if k% lies between the greatest and

(A.2 --B) 3
.

when they

^ 3 =0, then

-.

The

value

least

when the

is

spheres are in contact, the

are at an infinite distance, the value then being ,w3

F must

lie

between the greatest and

Ag

least values of

+2 m V

B)
~~~

(A,

3
.

Now

as

(A^

)(A2

A^O

as

If

we suppose a > b then

limits

A >A
1

3,

and

calling

kf k^ the
9

&i<&.

Hence

it

Kf<h

or

>m +^m\
1

least values of the

above

MR. W. M. HICKS
tlie

ON"

THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES

spheres can neither ever come to rest

Vd
the small sphere can never come to

The

A FLUID,

IN

487

if

rest.

of the fluid on vibratory motions.

effect

Suppose each of the two spheres attracted to a fixed centre of force where the

18.

Let x v x% be the distances of the spheres at any time

from their respective centres of force measured in the same direction. Then
force varies as the distance.

2T = A-^-j 2 +
Also since

we

ni^x^ m^x^

w/ 2 ~Bu x u2 = C

neglect squares of small quantities in finding the small vibrations, the

equations of motion become

Jl\.tX] ~~~

and we suppose the spheres

the small changes in A,

dA
contact -~, &c,

at

dr

"

iii^LLjOu-i

mmmm

XjX& -

XjX-\

~~\

so distant,

***-

2 """""

""""""

^^qI^QiQ

and their motions

was shown in

sin

x 9 =e'L l

we

(K^+^+Nj sin

sin

close, for

14.

Solving the above equations in the usual manner

^=1^

we may neglect

The spheres must not be too

during the motion.

are infinite, as

so small, that

find

(K 3+/3)

(K^+^+e'Nj sin (K 2 <+/3)

where
Kx 3
2(A 1 A 3 ~B 2 )

_ BK^
_ A K -m

AjjK^-m^
1

1 j* 1

BKi 3

From

this

the spheres

we
is

_ A K -m _ BK

BK
~A K --m
2

lA6 1

see that, to the first order of small quantities, the

/x

mean

position of

is

no mean

fluid, in

the same

not altered, or to that degree of approximation there

attraction or repulsion.

If

we regard

the spheres as two pendulums swinging in the

horizontal line, of lengths

we

write

l9

2,

then the motion

is

given by the above equations

if

MR. W. M. HICKS

488

ON THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES

Pi- 1

1.

m = co

we make

we

A FLUID.

~Pizl.lL

where p l9 p 2 are the densities of the spheres compared to the

If in the above

IN"

fluid.

get the case of a forced vibration of period 7

/*i

In this case

K*=k K *=-p

1=
o?

=L sin (\/fat-\-a)

x^ =~

If the sphere

(b)

is

L sin (\/A^+ a )+N

set free

when

(a) is for

sin

a/^~^^+/3

moment

the

at rest,

and the time be

reckoned from this moment

eLl COS 4/fat cos

and the motion of

of

(6)

two

consists of

A/

r^t

periodic terms

whose amplitude

is e

times that

(a).

Let now the strength of the centre of force on

(6)

diminish indefinitely.

Then

^=-r-L(cos \/fat~l)

and

would

(6)

towards

it

oscillate in

except by

the same period as

forces

(a),

without being attracted or repelled

depending on the square of the amplitude of

then, whether the action of (a) on

(b) is

attractive or repulsive

of quantities of the second order of small quantities.

The

full

For a

equation of motion of

first

approximation

(b) is

we have

iX/i

B
=Y-L{cos^fat-l)

Write

_
B
=
L(cos y/^ +
*

T2

l)

(a).

we must take

To

find,

account

TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION" OF

where

% is of

L3

the order

Substituting for

at least.

IN

A FLUID.

489

and neglecting cubes and

higher powers of L,

A(tJ\.n

JDJuyU'i

CvXj j

-j.

B \ dA

__

-i L Vi(x72~ 2 A )^ sin2 v/^- + |LVi^;(A -2B) sin

1

^=0

and

B\

,_

3/

Whence

BL

the equation takes the form

A a2=/+<j( cos x/fat+h cos 2^/J^t

where
2f

B\/B ^A

^Vi

Vte^

in

which

last

^r\

may neglect in A the m 1 +im\ as it disappears in the

mean action of (a) on (h) is an acceleration towards (a)

form we

Hence the

tiation.

^/AxAgB

~~

__ k

A*i

is

the " velocity of

mean square "

If the distance of the spheres

inverse powers of the distance,

terms in

and

B.

In this case

is

dr\

Q//

---q

dVA^

4A 3

if

jB/B
VAj i^/a "" o"R\
Al 2 ^
+ %\A ^ 2 /^r~V

dB\

7 ""^/

of

"^-Q

(a).

we may

so large that

we need
it will

differen-

neglect twelfth and higher

only consider the first images or the

be found that the acceleration to

first

(a) is

18u 3 /ay

2p + l\r

To

find

when

there

is

(r-& 2 )*

2p +

repulsion
i

(f-b*)

< 2p + i

lr

(23)
m

MR

490

W. M. HICKS ON

THE MOTION OF TWO SPHERES

IF A FLUID,

or
h

which can clearly only happen

vi- </m
2p+l<S

if

In general, then, when the body

density

is less

than the fluid there

Thomson), beyond which there

This

critical distance is

denser than the fluid

is

formula

which

fails

it

will be repulsion,

critical distance

and within which

it

It

is,

would be

depends on

it is

attractive.

v^

(24)

r comes out nearly equal to b } the

if

it

If the density of the sphere be

least.

7 '648 times its radius.

the principal term, in the acceleration depends on r^

the fluid

W.

was obtained on the supposition that the

however, extremely accurate if we remember that it is

to give a correct value, as

true up to inverse powers of the twelfth at

the

If its

mentioned by Sir

given by

must be remembered that

distances were large.

it is attracted.

will be a critical point (as

VI'in using

or the density of the sphere less than the

may be

It
7
,

if

*9

noticed that while

the density be the same as

r"

In the case of a sphere vibrating within another sphere, along the line of centres,
the effect of the fluid will be represented by supposing the inertia of the sphere
increased

by a mass

= i{l + 3Q(g'.g
where

has the value given in

mass of
provided

becomes

fluid displaced

it is

infinite,

sphere will produce great changes in the value of Q.

centre,

dQ
-^ =0 and

Q may

it

not close to the boundary of the

clQ

containing sphere, as in that case

by

and the small motions of the

When

its

mean

position

is

the

be considered constant when we neglect in our equations of

The value

motion cubes of small quantities.

of

in this case

is,

as has been already

menxioneci,
b s 4- 2a?
JL-

The foregoing
envelope when

~X

tya

mass of fluid displaced

serves to solve the problem of a ball

it is

spherical

so suspended that its centre lies in the horizontal line through the

centre of the envelope.

coefficient of inertia

pendulum within a

may

When

it oscillates

in

any other position the value of the

be approximated to as in

15,

16

TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

require to find the force necessary to do

going.

Suppose the sphere

moment

at rest,

moving

(a)

and suppose a constant

The equation

of motion for
*

in

it

held

491

fast,

and

a different result from the fore-

any manner, the sphere

force

acting on

(6)

being for the

6.

is

d.A.

we get

so,

A FLUID.

move we suppose

If instead of supposing the sphere (h) free to

19.

IN

A^-B^+W^i-%)^T+W^(A -2B)=F
1

Suppose now that

Then
is

of such a magnitude that

is

the force required to keep

is

being zero

makes x2

moment when

at rest at the

(h)

it

also zero.

the motion of

(a)

Hence

given by u v x y

P=-Bx +|V|(A
1

Let x l ='L sin

^6

K.t,

-2B)

Then neglecting cubes of small

being small.

F=(b+^ clAhK* sin Kt+ jT (A

quantities

-2B)L 3K 2 cos'2 Kt

and

dr=x ='L
l

F=BLK* sin K*+iL K j^+i|;(A -2B)| +^cos

8

.\

This
is

is

a force

the force at the time

=^L3 K

Since

dA
(6).

sin K.t

dA
2 ~-~

necessary to keep

(b)

at rest.

2Kt

Hence the mean

force

towards

which

(<x),

is

equal and opposite to the force of

(a)

on

~~

is

negative, the action

is

an attractive one

Oji

dr

dr

Taking

for

only the

first

term of Q, which

is

equivalent to neglecting twelfth and

higher inverse powers of r

A =m +^m\< 1 + 31
l

and the

\3

ab
/ytZ

__ J\Z

force

= 9mV. cm

'

afar

i)*

^^-t^t^X
is

For example,
2a), the

weight of

fluid displaced

for equal spheres at a distance

mean square

by a

(25)

Aa (distance between their surfaces

of velocity of (a) being the

same

as for

oxygen at a tempe-

492

rature of 0

v= 1524

G,

being measured
the

TWO SPHERES

MR. W. M. HICKS ON THE MOTION OF

size,

feet per 1",

It

in feet.

and the

force

= - X
:

IN A FLUID.

weight of fluid displaced, a

clear that while the force decreases indefinitely

is

with

the "effective" force increases indefinitely.

If (a) vibrate through a distance yg-inch, 256 times a second,

force is '01197

weight of water displaced

In the same manner can be found the action of

small curve whose plane contains

and a=^-inch, the

weight of 12*8 milligrammes.

(a)

on

when a

(h)

(5).

Values

of Q, Q' for equal spheres.

&

Q.

-72985
6418
5367
4431
-3819
3138
2679
2087
1459
1125

051800
028307
018768
009531
004049
001959
0007023
0002962
-0000723
0000090
0000019

2a

1-05
1-1

1-2

1-35
1-5

1-75

2
2-5
3-5
4-5

Values

of

Q Q2
1?

Q'

as

when a=2b

150257
116749
-098312
073754
0511

037142
023335
015631
008001
002895
001373

for external spheres

T
a-f-b

1-05
1-1

1-25
1-5

Qr

Ms*

0206
01228
00862
003653
000719
000186

0945
04298
02572
00886
00119
00024

Values

of

^Q

Q when 6= 2a

for

pQ

Q.

142870
25

15106

18046

75

25676

61645

35616
27144
23072
15344
08720
03643
00013

an internal sphere.

1
'-

04452
03393
02884
01918
01090
00455
000016

Q'-

describes

any