Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2023/iii/paper-315/3/b/solution

Assume a thin isothermal atmosphere, so and the surface area are constant through it. Integrating hydrostatic equilibrium from base pressure to negligible top pressure gives atmospheric column mass . Therefore
Equivalently, , with and ; the explicit temperature dependence cancels.

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