Radiation Effect on MHD Free Convection Flow of a Gas Past a Semi-infinite Vertical Plate with Variable Viscosity

The radiation effect in the presence of a uniform transverse magnetic field on steady free convection flow with variable viscosity is investigated. The fluid viscosity is assumed to vary as the reciprocal of a linear function of temperature. Boundary layer equations are derived. The resulting approximate non-linear ordinary differential equations are solved linearly and nonlinearly by shooting methods. The velocity and temperature profiles are shown, and the skin friction on the plate and heat transfer coefficient are presented and discussed. The results of the present study show that in the presence of magnetic field, as the radiation parameter increases the temperature increases, but the velocity decreases.