The Richardson number is a dimensionless number that quantifies the relative importance of buoyancy to inertial forces in a fluid flow. It is defined as the ratio of potential energy due to buoyancy to the kinetic energy of the flow, indicating whether buoyancy-driven motion or inertia-driven motion predominates. This concept is crucial for understanding natural convection and mixed convection, as it helps to determine the stability of fluid flows and the conditions under which natural convection can occur.
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