Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-formation-of-structure-in-the-universe-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2015/paper-1/3/a/solution
Past exam of the formation of Structure in the Universe course of the University of Cambridge 2015 Paper 1 3 a Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-20
For constant inflow and efficiency , with no recycling or outflow, mass conservation gives the constant-inflow gas regulator solution:The equilibrium is stable: a gas-mass perturbation obeys . At late times the star formation rate approaches , while the gas reservoir approaches a constant.
Integrating with gives the stellar mass in a constant-inflow gas regulator:It also follows immediately from . The gas mass equilibrates; the stellar mass generally keeps growing. With , these reduce to exponential gas depletion and .
A constant inflow is implicit in the requested steady asymptote, not automatic for an arbitrary prescribed rate. For time-dependent the exact integrating-factor result isa constant late-time gas mass then requires a corresponding asymptotically steady supply. Both printed mark groups remain in this single unlettered continuation of part(a).
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