In: Physics
Elaborate on the concept of elasticity at its connection with interatomic forces. Be as detailed as possible.
The forces between the atoms due to electrostatic interaction
between the charges of the atoms are called
interatomic forces. These forces are electrical in nature and these
are active if the distance between the two
atoms is of the order of atomic size i.e. 10–10
metre.
(1) Every atom is electrically neutral, the number of electrons
(negative charge) orbiting around the
nucleus is equal to the number of proton (positive charge) in the
nucleus. So if two atoms are placed at a very
large distance from each other then there will be a very small
(negligible) interatomic force working between
them.
(2) When these two atoms are brought close to each other to a
distance of the order of 10–10 m, the
distances between their positive nuclei and negative electron
clouds get disturbed, and due to this, attractive
interatomic force is produced between two atoms.
(3) This attractive force increases continuously with decrease
in r and becomes maximum for one value of
r called critical distance. Beyond this the attractive force starts
decreasing rapidly with further decrease in the value of r.
(4) When the distance between the two atoms becomes
r0, the interatomic
force will be zero. This distance r0 is called normal or
equilibrium distance.
(r0 = 0.74 Å for hydrogen).
(5) When the distance between the two atoms further decreased,
the
interatomic force becomes repulsive in nature and increases very
rapidly with
decrease in distance between two atoms.
6)The potential energy U is related with the interatomic force F by the following relation.
F=dU/dr
(i) When two atoms are at very large distance, the potential
energy is negative and becomes more negative as r is
decreased.
(ii) When the distance between the two atoms becomes r0, the
potential energy of the system of two atoms
becomes minimum (i.e. attains maximum negative value). As the state
of minimum potential energy is the state
of equilibrium, hence the two atoms at separation r0 will be in a
state of equilibrium.
( U0= 7.2 x10-19 Joule for hydrogen).
(iii) When the distance between the two atoms is further
decreased (i.e. r < r0) the negative value of
potential energy of the system starts decreasing. It becomes zero
and then attains positive value with further
decrease in r