Rayleigh number: Difference between revisions
From Glossary of Meteorology
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|Display title=Rayleigh number | |||
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|Meaning=The nondimensional ratio between the product of [[buoyancy]] forces and heat [[advection]] and the product of [[viscous forces]] and heat [[conduction]] in a fluid. | |||
|Explanation=It is written as <blockquote>[[File:ams2001glos-Re19.gif|link=|center|ams2001glos-Re19]]</blockquote> where ''g'' is the [[acceleration of gravity]], Δ<sub>''z''</sub>''T'' a characteristic vertical [[temperature]] difference in the characteristic depth ''d'', α the [[coefficient of expansion]], ν the [[kinematic viscosity|kinematic viscosity]], and ''k'' the molecular [[conductivity]]. The Rayleigh number is equal to the product of the [[Grashoff number|Grashoff]] and [[Prandtl numbers]], and is the critical [[parameter]] in the theory of [[thermal instability]] for laboratory flows. | |||
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Latest revision as of 04:38, 27 March 2024
The nondimensional ratio between the product of buoyancy forces and heat advection and the product of viscous forces and heat conduction in a fluid.
It is written as
where g is the acceleration of gravity, ΔzT a characteristic vertical temperature difference in the characteristic depth d, α the coefficient of expansion, ν the kinematic viscosity, and k the molecular conductivity. The Rayleigh number is equal to the product of the Grashoff and Prandtl numbers, and is the critical parameter in the theory of thermal instability for laboratory flows.
