Motion of a sphere through a conducting fluid in the presence of a strong magnetic field

ABSTRACTThe steady motion of a perfectly conducting sphere in an inviscid conducting fluid in the presence of a strong magnetic field is discussed. It is shown that if the fluid velocity is ultimately steady then it is two-dimensional, and a cylinder of fluid whose generators are parallel to the direction of the field moves with the sphere as if solid. The streamlines outside are straight lines if the sphere moves in the direction of the field but have to execute sharp turns if it moves at right angles to the field. The motion to be expected in practice is discussed using an analogy.