Eur. Phys. J. E (2008) 25: 1-4
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2007-10276-2

Rapid Note

Three-sphere low-Reynolds-number swimmer with a cargo container

Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, S3 7RH, Sheffield, UK

^* e-mail: r.golestanian@sheffield.ac.uk

Received: 12 December 2007
Accepted: 25 January 2008
Published online: 14 February 2008

Abstract

A recently introduced model for an autonomous swimmer at low Reynolds number that is comprised of three spheres connected by two arms is considered when one of the spheres has a large radius. The Stokes hydrodynamic flow associated with the swimming strokes and net motion of this system can be studied analytically using the Stokes Green's function of a point force in front of a sphere of arbitrary radius R provided by Oseen. The swimming velocity is calculated, and shown to scale as 1/R ³ with the radius of the sphere.