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Lennard jones potential

Explain the mathematical procedure for thecalculation of the separation at the minimum of the potential (you are NOTrequired to perform the calculation).

How would I go about this using the lennard jones potential?
You are looking for the minimum in the potential, that is, the value of r that minimises V(r).

To find minima with respect to a variable, you take the derivative of the function with respect to that variable, and set the derivative equal to zero (as this then corresponds to a stationary point in the function. You then rearrange to find the value of the variable at which the derivative is zero (r min, here). As the Lennard Jones potential has only one stationary point, it is not necessary to make sure that the curvature of the function is positive at the stationary point.
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jacksonmeg
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Original post by Infraspecies
You are looking for the minimum in the potential, that is, the value of r that minimises V(r).

To find minima with respect to a variable, you take the derivative of the function with respect to that variable, and set the derivative equal to zero (as this then corresponds to a stationary point in the function. You then rearrange to find the value of the variable at which the derivative is zero (r min, here). As the Lennard Jones potential has only one stationary point, it is not necessary to make sure that the curvature of the function is positive at the stationary point.


Ooooh I see! thanks

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