A third-order differential equation arising in thin-film flows and relevant to Tannerʹs Law Original Research Article

In this paper, we describe for the first time the properties of the general solution to the third-order ordinary differential equation y′ʹʹ = y−2 which is important in the study of thin viscous films with surface tension. This solution is then used to solve exactly a problem relevant to Tannerʹs Law for the speed of a moving three-phase contact line.