Class exercises

Chapter 1. Introduction

Section 1.2 Conservation of Momentum

1.1 On a map straight and parallel isobars are running east-west and have been
drawn every 0.50 kPa. Pressure decreases to the north. In reality these isobars
are at 150 km distance from each other. Determine both horizontal components
of the pressure gradient h p and the pressure gradient force F on a particle
with mass m = 1 kg. Assume = 1.2 kg m-3.
1.2 What must the separation be between a 5.2 kg particle and a 2.4 kg particle for
their gravitational attraction to have a magnitude of 2.3 10-12 N?
1.3 Calculate the acceleration of gravitation (g*) of a mass of m = 1 kg lying on the
earths surface at sea level using Holton Eq. (1.7).
1.4 Calculate the acceleration of gravitation (g*) at the mid-latitude height of the
tropopause (12 km). What is the difference between this value and the value
found in the previous exercise as a percentage?
Section 1.3 Noninertial Reference Frames and Apparent Forces
1.5 a. Calculate the centripetal acceleration of Earth in its orbit around the Sun.
Assume the Sun-Earth distance equals 150 106 km.
b. From this number calculate the mass of the Sun.
c. What is the ratio of the masses of Sun and Earth?
1.6 Solve Problem 1.6 of Holton.
1.7 Solve Problem 1.7 of Holton.
1.8 An object with m = 0.1 kg is rotated
horizontally at the end of a 1.75 m long string
(Figure 1.1). The angular velocity is given by
= 3 rad s-1.
a. How large is the centripetal force needed
to force the object into the circular orbit?
Figure 1.1 Mass m is
b. Calculate the angle between the string
rotating at the end of a 1.75
and the horizontal plane.
m long string.
c. Compute the velocity of the object (in
ms-1).
(Hint: sketch all forces acting on mass m first and consider their components in
the horizontal and vertical direction).

Section 1.4 The Structure of the Static Atmosphere

1.9 The 60 kPa level is located at a height of 4100 m and the temperature there
equals 263 K. The temperature at the 40 kPa level equals 243 K. If we assume
that the temperature varies linearly between these two levels, calculate the
height of the 40 kPa level
a. by using an average temperature for the 60-40 kPa layer, and
b. by deriving and using an expression of T(p) for the 60-40 kPa layer.
1.10 The 85 kPa plane is inclined as shown in Figure 1.2.
a. Calculate the horizontal
temperature gradient along (1)
the 85 kPa pressure level and (2)
the 1500 m horizontal plane, if
the vertical temperature gradient
equals zero (i.e. an isothermal
atmosphere)
b. Do the same when this gradient
equals d (i.e. a dry adiabatic
atmosphere).
c. Show in both cases that the
Figure 1.2 Definition sketch for calculating the
transformation formula (1.36) is
horizontal temperature gradient along a
pressure level and a horizontal plane.
correct.

Section 1.5 Kinematics

1.11 The square in Holton Figure 1.12b has sides with length 2L and the maximum
u- and v-components of the velocity have a value of 10 m/s. The origin of the
coordinate system is in the exact centre of the square, and the x- and y-axis
point to the right and up, respectively.
a. Find expressions for u(x,y) and v(x,y) for this flow field.
b. Calculate the divergence () of this flow field.
1.12 A certain horizontal flow field is given by the following simple relations for the
horizontal velocity components (for both x and y ranging from -1 to +1):
u(x,y) = 10 x
v(x,y) = -10 y
The units of u, v, x and y are in arbitrary velocity and length units.
Calculate the values of , , d1 and d2 for this field. Also make a sketch of this
flow field for x and y ranging between -1 and 1.
1.13 Consider a flow in which: u(x,y) = Kx2 and v(x,y) = -Ky2 where K is a positive
constant.
a. For what values of x and y is the flow nondivergent?
b. For what values of x and y does the flow have anticyclonic vorticity ( < 0)?
c. What is the unit of K?

1.14 At point A (Figure 1.3) compute the

divergence assuming the four stations lie
on a perfect square in a Cartesian
coordinate system. Use finite differences
to approximate derivatives. (Hint: rotate
your coordinate system)
[after Bluestein, 1992].

Figure 1.3 Wind (direction / speed in kts) in

four stations surrounding point A.

Answers
1.1

p=(0 , -3.3310-3) in Pa/m ; Fp=(0 , 2.7810-3) in N

1.2

r = 19 m

1.3

g*sealevel = 9.847 m s-2

1.4

g*tropo = 9.810 m s-2; difference = 0.38%

1.5

a. ac = 5.9510-3 m s-2 ; b. MSun = 2.001030 kg ; c. ratio = 334000

1.6

v = 6.22 m s-1

1.7

Fcor = 994.6 N ; eastward FN = 1960.9103 N ; westward FN = 1963.1103 N

1.8

a. Fc = 1.22 N ; b. 39 ; c. v = 4.1 m s-1

1.9

a. z = 7102 m ; b. z = 7095 m




1.10 a.
  =
  = 5 10  /





b.
 = 7.44 10  / ;
 = 5 10  /

 

 

1.11 a. u(x,y) = 10x/L and v(x,y) = 10y/L ; b. = 20/L

1.12 = 0 ; = 0 ; d1 = 20 ; d2 = 0
1.13 a. x=y ; b. for no values of x and y ; c. [K] = s-1 m-1
1.14 = 3.15 10-5 s-1