# Homework Help: Sketching this function for potential energy of two atoms in a molecule

1. Oct 17, 2012

### Nano-Passion

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

The potential energy of two atoms in a molecule can sometimes be approximated by the Morse function, where r is the distance between the two atoms and A, R, And positive constants with S<<R. Sketch this function for 0<r<∞....

$U(r) = A ( (e^{(R-r)/(S)}-1)^2 - 1)$

This is just one part of the problem but it is the part bothering me so I'll leave out the rest of the problem. This should be an easy problem, as indicated by the (*).

3. The attempt at a solution

$U(r) = A ( (e^{(R-r)/(S)}-1)^2 - 1)$
I rewrite $e^{(R-r)S}$ as $e^{R/S-r/S}$

The only way I can think about graphing this is to ignore all other things except for $e^{R/S-r/S}$ and manipulating R/S

Since S<<R, $R/S→∞$

But then that just gives me nonsense! What else can I do?

Expanding $(e^{R/S-r/S})^2$ does not help either. Ignoring all constants and values except for r does not help either because $e^{R/S-r/S}$ = e^-r which will give me the wrong sketch.

Last edited: Oct 17, 2012
2. Oct 17, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

Plot U/A as a function of r/R, with R/S as a parameter for each curve. Try a value of R/S equal to 10 to start with. Play with different values of R/S.

3. Oct 17, 2012

### Nano-Passion

As a function of r/R? I'm not following and I don't understand the motivation behind this. =/

4. Oct 18, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

You'd like to be able to display all the information about this function on a single graph. You can do this if you use the dimensionless variables U/A, r/R, and R/S. When r/R = 1, U/A = -1; thus, this point should be the same on all the curves, irrespective of R/S. Rewrite the equation in the form:

(U/A) = (exp(-R/S (r/R -1)) -1)2 -1

You can explore the behavior in the region r close to R by expanding in a Taylor series in (1-r/R):

(U/A) ~ ((1 - (R/S)(1-r/R)) -1)2 -1 = -1 + (R/S)2(1-r/R)2

At very small r/R, you approach

(U/A) ~ exp (2R/S)

At very large r/R, you approach

(U/A) ~ -2 exp(-R/S (r/R))

5. Oct 22, 2012

Thanks.