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A long wavelength solution for a microorganism swimming in a channel

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Abstract

The hydrodynamics of a microorganism swimming in a channel is investigated. The microorganism is modeled as a two-dimensional sheet swimming at low Reynolds numbers between two rigid walls. The wavelengths of the propulsive waves passing down the sheet are assummed to be very large compared to the channel spacing, but the amplitude of the propulsive waves is arbitrary. Explicit analytical solutions for the propulsive velocity and the rate of energy dissipated in terms of the wave amplitude, channel spacing, wave number, and wave speeds are given.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts, USA

    W. J. Shack & T. J. Lardner

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  1. W. J. Shack
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  2. T. J. Lardner
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Shack, W.J., Lardner, T.J. A long wavelength solution for a microorganism swimming in a channel. Bltn Mathcal Biology 36, 435–444 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02464619

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02464619

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