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There is a well-known analysis of the distribution of particles by height in an isothermal atmosphere. It states that the probability of finding a particle at height ##h## is ##p(h) \propto e^{-\beta mgh}##, and then goes on to state that the number of particles at height ##h## is ##n(h) \propto e^{-\beta mgh}##.
Is this not strictly incorrect, and merely an approximation? Surely we need to count the number of available states at each ##h##, and this will be proportional to the available volume in a thin shell at height ##h## i.e. we should have ##n(h) \propto f(h) e^{-\beta mgh}## where ##f(h)## measures the available volume? (This is because, roughly speaking, we can fit more molecules into a thin shell as ##h## increases.)
I'm guessing that this isn't done as ##h## doesn't vary much compared to the Earth's radius?
Is this not strictly incorrect, and merely an approximation? Surely we need to count the number of available states at each ##h##, and this will be proportional to the available volume in a thin shell at height ##h## i.e. we should have ##n(h) \propto f(h) e^{-\beta mgh}## where ##f(h)## measures the available volume? (This is because, roughly speaking, we can fit more molecules into a thin shell as ##h## increases.)
I'm guessing that this isn't done as ##h## doesn't vary much compared to the Earth's radius?