The discussion revolves around the degrees of freedom in molecules, particularly focusing on linear molecules and their vibrational modes. Participants are exploring the relationship between translational, rotational, and vibrational motions, as well as the associated energies.
There is active engagement with various interpretations of vibrational modes and degrees of freedom. Some participants are clarifying the distinction between vibrational modes and degrees of freedom, while others are questioning the assumptions made about the energy contributions from these modes. The discussion is ongoing, with no explicit consensus reached.
Participants are navigating the complexities of molecular motion, including the implications of linear versus non-linear molecules and the definitions of vibrational modes. There is a focus on understanding the foundational concepts without resolving all uncertainties.
What kind of energies belong to a single vibration?Herculi said:
The kinetic energy due to the vibration and the potential stored (as in kx²/2)ehild said:
Good! A two-atomic molecle has a single vibrational mode. When performig that motion, the molecule has both kinetic and potential energy. If you want to specify thevibrational state of the molecule, you have to give both the velocity and the phase of the vibrationThese are two degrees of freedom for each vibrational mode.Herculi said:
"A two-atomic molecle has a single vibrational mode. " That's what i don't understand, two particles connected by a spring, as a model for a molecule, do not have two degree of freedom? So two vibrational mode which gives us 4 types of energy? The kinect and energy stored in one mode and in another mode.ehild said:
Two particles conneted by a spring corresponds to a single oscillator, a single vibrational mode, but it has two degrees of vibrational freedom,.Herculi said: