Interaction potential energy

[705676154]

Can someone explain how we solve for the interaction of potential energy please?

[Jessica Tam 3H]

Hi,
As for the class, I don't believe we would be asked to solve anything, but we should know the general concept behind it. The electron potential energy is proportional to the negative polarizability of atoms or molecules (which depends on the number of electrons and size of the atoms and molecules) divided by the distance between atoms/molecules to the sixth power. So as the distance increases, the interaction potential energy significantly decreases. It is negative because attractive forces are negative.
I hope this helps!

[Brooklyn Burgess 3L]

If distance between molecule increases even slightly, the interaction decreases to the power of six

[elletruchan2I]

Hi,
As for the class, I don't believe we would be asked to solve anything, but we should know the general concept behind it. The electron potential energy is proportional to the negative polarizability of atoms or molecules (which depends on the number of electrons and size of the atoms and molecules) divided by the distance between atoms/molecules to the sixth power. So as the distance increases, the interaction potential energy significantly decreases. It is negative because attractive forces are negative.
I hope this helps!

This was super helpful, thank you!

[cnyland]

We aren't expected to be able to solve for it!