- #1
Physicslad78
- 47
- 0
Hi guys... I have a small question on potential energies:
I have got two potential energies: [tex]
\begin{equation}
U_1=-\frac{k^2}{2}+\frac{w\sqrt{3}}{2}\sin^2\theta \cos 2 \phi
\end{equation}
[/tex]
and [tex]
\begin{equation}
U_2==-\frac{k^2}{2}+\frac{w\sqrt{3}}{2}\sin^2\theta \sin 2 \phi
\end{equation}
[/tex]
where k is a constant and 0<theta<pi and 0<phi<2 pi. I minimized both of these and found that say for k=1, w=0.5 both U1 and U2 have the SAME value (-0.9333 I guess) but DIFFERENT minima...Does it mean that the two potentials represent the same physics or could the physical situations corresponding to both be different?
Thanks
I have got two potential energies: [tex]
\begin{equation}
U_1=-\frac{k^2}{2}+\frac{w\sqrt{3}}{2}\sin^2\theta \cos 2 \phi
\end{equation}
[/tex]
and [tex]
\begin{equation}
U_2==-\frac{k^2}{2}+\frac{w\sqrt{3}}{2}\sin^2\theta \sin 2 \phi
\end{equation}
[/tex]
where k is a constant and 0<theta<pi and 0<phi<2 pi. I minimized both of these and found that say for k=1, w=0.5 both U1 and U2 have the SAME value (-0.9333 I guess) but DIFFERENT minima...Does it mean that the two potentials represent the same physics or could the physical situations corresponding to both be different?
Thanks
Last edited: