Two-Dimensional Problems of Minimal Resistance in a Medium of Positive Temperature

Alexander Yu. Plakhov, Delfim F. M. Torres

Published 2004-04-09Version 1

We study the Newton-like problem of minimal resistance for a two-dimensional body moving with constant velocity in a homogeneous rarefied medium of moving particles. The distribution of the particles over velocities is centrally symmetric. The problem is solved analytically; the minimizers are shown to be of four different types. Numerical results are obtained for the physically significant case of gaussian circular distribution of velocities, which corresponds to a homogeneous ideal gas of positive temperature.