1. Limited time only! Sign up for a free 30min personal tutor trial with Chegg Tutors
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
Join Physics Forums Today!
The friendliest, high quality science and math community on the planet! Everyone who loves science is here!

Formula for the vibration rate of an atom?

Tags:
  1. Jan 9, 2015 #1

    greasehoot

    User Avatar

    Just a general inquiry, and not for any personal gain and or theory, I would like to know if anyone has developed a formula for measuring the vibrational rate of an atom.
     
    greasehoot, Jan 9, 2015
  2. jcsd
    Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories on Phys.org
  3. Jan 9, 2015 #2

    Nugatory

    User Avatar

    Staff: Mentor

    What would it mean to have "a formula for measuring the vibrational rate of an atom"? If you want to measure something, you use a measuring device. Formulas are for calculating the value you expect to find if you were to perform the measurement.

    There are ways of calculating the expected vibration rate (which is properly called "frequency") of various oscillating systems, but you have to start with a fairly precise specification of the forces, masses, and energies involved. If you google for "Harmonic oscillator" that will get you started.
     
    Nugatory, Jan 9, 2015
  4. Jan 9, 2015 #3

    rumborak

    User Avatar

    Or are you asking this in relation to heat, i.e. the movement of an atom in a warm body?
     
    rumborak, Jan 9, 2015
  5. Jan 10, 2015 #4

    greasehoot

    User Avatar

    well yeah, in relation to the three states that atoms could be in. I looked at the harmonic oscillator and found that to be quite handy.
     
    greasehoot, Jan 10, 2015
Share this great discussion with others via Reddit, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook