Symmetric three-particle motion in Stokes flow: equilibrium for heavy spheres in contrast to "end-of-world" for point forces
arXiv:cond-mat/0508498 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.73.046309
Abstract
A stationary stable solution of the Stokes equations for three identical heavy solid spheres falling in a vertical plane is found. It has no analog in the point-particle approximation. Three spheres aligned horizontally at equal distances evolve towards the equilibrium relative configuration while the point particles collapse onto a single point in a finite time.
arXiv comment4 pages, 7 figures