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Continuity equation

From Encyclopedia of Mathematics
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One of the basic equations in hydrodynamics, expressing the law of conservation of mass for any volume of a moving fluid (or gas). In Euler variables the continuity equation has the form

where is the density of the fluid, is its velocity at a given point, and are the projections of the velocity on the coordinate axes. If the fluid is incompressible , then the continuity equation takes the form

For a stationary one-dimensional flow in a tube, canal, etc., with cross-sectional area , the continuity equation gives the law for the flow.

How to Cite This Entry:
Continuity equation. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Continuity_equation&oldid=13303
This article was adapted from an original article by BSE-3 (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article