Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 April 2017
Steady flow in a cylinder of finite length rotating rapidly at right angles to the earth's gravity and containing a rigid cylindrical float is found under the assumption of small viscosity. The float is modelled by a ‘rigid free surface'. The major new result is a prediction of the rotation rate of the interface, which differs by a factor of O(E1/4) from those given by Greenspan (1976) and Wood (1977) for a rigid interface in an infinitely long cylinder. The difference is accounted for by the appearance of Stewartson layers on the inner boundary in the finite case. The result is supported by an experiment of my own, and is not in conflict with the experimental results given by Greenspan.
Some additional experimental observations are reported: a comparison of free and rigid surface rotation rates; and a brief description of the spin-up from rest.