The Navier-Stokes equations are a set of nonlinear partial differential equations that describe the motion of fluid substances such as liquids and gases. They are fundamental to the field of fluid dynamics and express the principles of conservation of momentum, mass, and energy for fluid flow. The equations take into account various forces acting on the fluid, including pressure, viscous, and external forces, which can be mathematically represented as:
where is the fluid velocity, is the pressure, is the dynamic viscosity, is the fluid density, and represents external forces (like gravity). Solving the Navier-Stokes equations is crucial for predicting how fluids behave in various scenarios, such as weather patterns, ocean currents, and airflow around aircraft. However, finding solutions for these equations, particularly in three dimensions, remains one of the unsolved problems in mathematics, highlighting their complexity and the challenges they pose in theoretical and applied contexts.
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