Example 2.18 Application: Nonuniform Flow A fluid flows in a channel of width 2d with a velocity profile given
by v ¼ ^y v0 d
x
.
(a) Calculate the curl of the velocity.
(b) How can you explain the fact that circulation of the flow is nonzero while the water itself flows in a straight line
(see Figure 2.24)?
(c) What is the direction of the curl? What does this imply for an object floating on the water (such as a long stick)?
Explain.
y