randybryan
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Just started revision for Quantum Mechanics after a very long break so everything is a bit rusty. Don't have anyone nearby at hand to ask, so hoping someone here will help.
Been given Newton's second law of motion as
F= m d^2 x/ dt^2
which is a second order equation hence requiring two initial conditions, often given as x(t=0) and dx/dt (t=0). Then, to quote from my lecture notes, ''In quantum mechanics, we will work with potentials, rather than forces, so we will be restricted to conservative systems where energy is constant. The aboe Newton's law equation can be written as
AND THIS IS WHERE I CAN'T DEDUCE WHAT'S GOING ON
F= md^2x/dt^2 = -dV/dx
Where does the -dV/dx come from? I know this is a potential, but I don't know how it was derived
Been given Newton's second law of motion as
F= m d^2 x/ dt^2
which is a second order equation hence requiring two initial conditions, often given as x(t=0) and dx/dt (t=0). Then, to quote from my lecture notes, ''In quantum mechanics, we will work with potentials, rather than forces, so we will be restricted to conservative systems where energy is constant. The aboe Newton's law equation can be written as
AND THIS IS WHERE I CAN'T DEDUCE WHAT'S GOING ON
F= md^2x/dt^2 = -dV/dx
Where does the -dV/dx come from? I know this is a potential, but I don't know how it was derived
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