Why do Atoms Stick Together?
50
30
<Ek >
E (ev)
10
-10
-30
E
-50
<V>
-70
-90
0
1
2
R (Å)
3
4
5
10
8
6
Relative E (ev)
4
2
<V>
0
E
-2
-4
<Ek >
-6
-8
-10
0
1
2 R (Å) 3
4
5
(Top): Electronic energy, E, average kinetic energy, <E k>, and average potential energy,
<V>, as a function of bond length for H2. The electronic energy is a balance of large
opposing kinetic and potential energy contributions. (Bottom): The same data plotted relative
to the separated atoms to highlight changes in energy.
Colby College