Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2024 / iii / Paper 314 / 2 / a / Solution

Let $u(r)>0$ denote the inward radial velocity. Steady spherical symmetry and mass conservation giveThe radial Euler momentum equation for the globally isothermal equation of state $p=c_s^2\rho$ isThe logarithmic derivative of mass conservation is ${\rho }^{\prime }/\rho =-u^{\prime }/u-2/r$. Substitution gives the Isothermal Bondi equationAt a smooth sonic point, $u=c_s$ makes the coefficient of $u^{\prime }$ vanish, so the right-hand side must vanish too. ThereforeThe solution that crosses this critical point of the isothermal Bondi equation continuously is the transonic accretion solution.