University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
There are two situations where solutions of the transient Stokes equation give worth- while physical insights. An understanding of slow oscillatory flows is of value in discussions of Brownian motion, acoustics within a fluid with suspensions, or the motion of swimming organisms; also, the fluid behaviour immediately after an impulsive start to the motion can be dominated by diffusive forces. Illustrative examples of both types of behaviour will be presented -- the most striking conclusions follow when the frequency of the oscillations is small.