Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 8 - Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy - Problems - Page 213: 134b

Answer

The atom of mass $m$ will oscillate back and forth about the point $r = 0.2~nm$ where $U$ is a minimum.

Work Step by Step

Since the total energy in the system is less than zero, there is not enough energy for the atoms to escape from each other. Since $m \lt \lt M$, then the atom of mass $m$ will oscillate back and forth about the point $r = 0.2~nm$ where $U$ is a minimum. The leftmost point reached by the atom of mass $m$ will be the point $r \lt 0.2~nm$ where the energy $E$ is equal to the potential energy $U$ The rightmost point reached by the atom of mass $m$ will be the point $r \gt 0.2~nm$ where the energy $E$ is equal to the potential energy $U$
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