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Fr3shFr0st
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Homework Statement
The van der Waals potential between two inert atoms is often characterized by the expression:
http://bama.ua.edu/~stjones/253hw_files/image025.gif
Sketch the function. Expand the potential around the minimum in the form U = U(ro) + ½ k(r-ro)2. Evaluate k in terms of s and e.
Homework Equations
Above
The Attempt at a Solution
I got the sketch down fine. I am just unclear about the second part. Nothing in my physics textbook helps. What i have done so far is take the original equation and substitute it in
U = U(ro) + ½ k(r-ro)2. Doing that i got:
U = 4e[(σ/ro)^12-(σ/ro)^6] + ½ k(r-ro)2
From there i solved for k and got:
k={U-[4e[(σ/ro)^12-(σ/ro)^6]]/(r-ro)^2}*2
Im not sure if I am the right path but from here i don't know how to get k in terms of s and e. Any help is greatly appreciated!
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