The discussion revolves around the approximation of a Morse potential using a Taylor polynomial. Participants are exploring how to set up equations for this approximation, particularly focusing on the application of Taylor series expansion to the Morse potential in order to derive the force constant.
Participants appear to agree on the need to use the Taylor series for the Morse potential but have differing levels of understanding regarding the application of the method and the role of various parameters.
There is uncertainty regarding how to appropriately apply the Taylor expansion to the Morse potential, particularly in relation to the variables and parameters involved. The discussion does not resolve these uncertainties.
Readers interested in mathematical techniques for approximating potentials in physics, particularly those studying molecular interactions or related fields.
Do you know how to taylor expand exponentials?physicsman314 said:I am not going to post my question because I want to find out how to actually use the taylor polynomial and morse potential and then apply that to my problem. Say I have to approximate the morse potential using a taylor series expanding about some value. This will then find me the force constant. How would I go about setting up such equations?
Jorriss said:Do you know how to taylor expand exponentials?
There are not more variables exactly, there are more parameters but the only independent variable is r. So try expanding in terms of r and treat everything else as a constant.physicsman314 said:yeah, i know the formula
f(x) = f(a) + f'(a)(x-a) + f''(a)/2! (x-a)^2 and so on
I'm not sure how to do this on a morse potential. Seems like there are a lot of variables and I'm not sure from my given data, what goes where.