Hydromagnetic free convection effects on the Stokes problem for an infinite vertical plate

The extension of the problem of Stokes (also called Rayleigh's problem) to magnetohydrodynamic for the flow past an infinite, non-conducting and non-magnetic, vertical plate, is studied. The plate is assumed to move after receiving an initial impulse. The magnetic Reynold's number is taken small enough so that the induced magnetic field is negligible. Expressions, in closed form for the velocity and the skin friction, are obtained by applying the Laplace transform technique and the results obtained for various values of the parameters G (Grashof number) and M (Magnetic parameter) are given in graphical form. The paper is concluded with a discussion of the results obtained.