How thick is the atmosphere? A derivation of the Boltzmann distribution

Let’s talk about a small question as a way of introducing a big question. How thick is the atmosphere? How far does Earth’s atmosphere extend into space? In other words, how high can you go in altitude before you start to have difficulty breathing, or your bag of chips explodes, or you need to wear … Continue reading How thick is the atmosphere? A derivation of the Boltzmann distribution