Topic: Fluid Mechanics
A steady, incompressible, two-dimensional velocity field is given by, V⃗ = (u,v) = (0.5 + 0.8x)î + (1.5 - 0.8y)ĵ. The number of stagnation points there in the flow field is
- A. zero
- B. many
- C. 1
- D. 2
Answer: C. 1
Explanation: A stagnation point is where the local velocity is zero. Setting u = 0 gives 0.5 + 0.8x = 0, which means x = -0.625. Setting v = 0 gives 1.5 - 0.8y = 0, which means y = 1.875. Since there is exactly one solution for (x, y), there is only 1 stagnation point in the flow field.