On 28 Aug 2003 15:22:32 -0700, (Lennie the
Lurker) wrote:

Mike Borgelt wrote in message . ..

Not just like on Earth. The lower gravity means the density doesn't
drop off as quickly with altitude as on Earth.

Gravity follows an inverse square law, the further you are from the
center of gravity the less it becomes. Mars being considerably
smaller than earth, and much less mass, a change of several thousand
feet still won't be considerable, but will be a greater change then it
would be on a larger planet. The density will decrease faster than
here on Earth. Mars equatorial radius is .5326 that of Earth, gravity
is .379 and mass is .1074, all factors that lead to gravity decreasing
much more rapidly than here on Earth.


Now apply that to a neutron star. The Cheela disagree with you. So do
the inhabitants of "The Integral Trees".

We are talking atmospheric density vs altitude above surface not
gravity vs altitude above surface. The gravity *causes* the density
gradient so lower gravity, lower density gradient hence the density
doesn't drop off as quickly.

I might add that the sensible atmosphere of Earth ends long before the
gravity has decreased much.

Mike Borgelt