Question

The potential energy of a pair of hydrogen atoms separated by a large distance .x is given by L/(x) = —C6/x6, where C6 is a positive constant. What is the force that one atom exerts on the other? Is this force attractive or repulsive?

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

The force that one atom exerts on the other is the negative derivative of the potential energy = $\frac{-dL(x)}{dx}$

F(x) = - $\frac{d}{dx}$( -C₆ / x⁷) = - (- (-6) C₆ x⁻⁶ ⁻¹) = - 6C₆ /x⁷

when xis negative, F is positive and when x is positive, F is negative. It is therefore and attractive force and F is always directed to the center