On the Stability of A Heterogeneous Fluid Layer Heated from Above

Abstract

A discussion is presented on the stability of a heterogeneous layer of an inviscid fluid confined between two rigid horizontal parallel planes and heated uniformly from above. The basic nonhomogeneity of the fluid, which depends only on the vertical coordinate (z) is assumed to be of the form ρ=ρ₀[1+δz], δ being positive and of the order of αβ where α is the coefficient of volume expansion of the fluid and β is the uniform nonadverse temperature gradient which is maintained. The system is shown to be stable.