Remark on the Polytrope of Index 5

Abstract

Contrary to statements in the current literature the gravitational potential energy of the poly trope of index 5 is finite; With e. denoting the least positive zero of the Emden function of index n, the value of the limit as n -4 5 of (5 - n)e. is determined and made the basis of a simple rational approximation to e. qua function of n.