If n is the concentration of molecules at the surface of the Earth, M the mass of a molecule, and g the gravitational acceleration at the surface, show that at constant temperature the total number of molecules in the atmosphere is

With r measured from the center of the Earth; here R is the radius of the Earth. The integral diverges at the upper limit, so that N cannot be bounded and the atmosphere cannot be in equilibrium. Molecules, particularly light molecules, are always escaping from theatmosphere.

MGR2 cp exp MgR N 4(R) exp p2 dr rt