Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2024 / iii / Paper 317 / 4 / i / Solution

In the synchronously rotating reference frame, stationary fluid obeyswhere $\Psi$ is the sum of the two gravitational potentials and the centrifugal potential. The circular binary's Kepler third law gives ${\Omega }^2=G(M_1+M_2)/a^3=GM/a^3$, hence

Uniform composition and the assumed central condensation make star 1 approximately barotropic, so one may define the specific enthalpyHydrostatic balance becomes $\nabla (h+\Psi )=0$, or $h+\Psi =\text{constant}$ throughout the star. Since $h$ is a monotone function of $P$ and $\rho$, constant-$P$ and constant-$\rho$ surfaces are equipotential surfaces of $\Psi$.