Potential energy curve of a molecule

[freedom856]

Does anyone tell me why the potential energy increase(becomes more positive) when two atom put closer to each other which is smaller than the equilibrium bond distance while potential energy decrease(becomes more negative) when two atoms put closer to each other (which is close to equilibrium bond distance (faraway to equilibrium bond distance)

That is why repulsion causes energy increase and attraction causes energy decrease?

Thank you

 

[NEILS BOHR]

your question is itself being answered by yourself...:tongue:

 

[freedom856]

i want to ask why repulsion will cause energy increase and attraction will causes energy decrease, Do you understand?

 

[DrDu]

Potential energy is by definition minus the integral of force over distance, or force always points in the direction of decreasing potential energy.

 

[Borek]

i want to ask why repulsion will cause energy increase and attraction will causes energy decrease

This is not true as asked. Both can be seen as energy increase (decrease) depending on whether distance grows or goes down. As repulsion is opposite of attraction, nothing strange that effects are opposite when moving in the same direction.

 

[freedom856]

This is not true as asked. Both can be seen as energy increase (decrease) depending on whether distance grows or goes down. As repulsion is opposite of attraction, nothing strange that effects are opposite when moving in the same direction.

can you give some example to me for what you said? thank you

 

[Borek]

If you have two different charges, they attract each other. Separating them means doing work on the system, and system energy increases. However, if you allow them to get closer, energy of the system decreases. So, you have a system of attracting charges, in one cases energy goes up, in other energy goes down. Clearly statement "attraction causes decrease of the system energy" is wrong.