The potential energy of a diatomic molecule (a two-atom system like H2 or O2) is given by the following expression with r being the separation of the two atoms of the molecule and A and B being positive constants.
U = A/r^12 - B/r^6
This potential energy is associated with the force that binds the two atoms together.
(A) Find the equilibrium separation, that is, the distance between the atoms at which the force on each atom is zero.
a)3.32(A/B)1/6
b)1.12(A/B)1/6
c)1.12(B/A)1/6
(B) Is the force repulsive (the atoms are pushed apart) or attractive (they are pulled together) if their separation is smaller than the equilibrium separation?
a)It is a force of attraction.
b)It is a force of repulsion.
(C) Is the force repulsive (the atoms are pushed apart) or attractive (they are pulled together) if their separation is larger than the equilibrium separation?
a)It is a force of attraction.
b) It is a force of repulsion.
2007-02-24 15:09:48 · 1 answers · asked by x2carlosp 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
H2O is triatomic, is it not? 2- H and 1- O?
2007-02-26 15:10:10 · answer #1 · answered by Edward 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋