Global energy analysis for the problem of a liquid film flowing down an inclined plane subjected to an electric field

The dynamics of a thin layer of liquid flowing down a plane has been studied extensively in different situations. In this paper we analyse the effect on this dynamics of an applied electric field, from the point of view of the energy balance. Using the Shkadov approximation, we obtain a system of equations for the deformation and mass flow, which is studied in the linear approximation. Finally, we consider the effects of a finite conductivity in the liquid.