answersLogoWhite

0

In chemistry, the global minimum refers to the lowest energy arrangement of atoms. A potential energy surface is generally used within the adiabatic or Born--Oppenheimer approximation in quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. The "(hyper)surface" name comes from the fact that the total energy of an atom arrangement can be represented as a curve or (multidimensional) surface, with atomic positions as variables. The best visualization for a layman would be to think of a landscape, where going North-South and East-West are two independent variables.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Physics

Is potential energy on the surface of earth is always zero?

That depends on what reference level you have chosen. If the (arbitrary) reference level you chose is Earth's surface, then anything on the Earth's surface has zero potential energy. If you choose some higher reference level, an object on Earth's surface has a negative potential energy. If you choose a lower reference level, an object on Earth's surface would have a positive potential energy.


Why potential energy is minimum at equilibrium distance?

At equilibrium distance, the forces between atoms or molecules are balanced, resulting in stable and minimum potential energy. Any deviation from this distance would cause a change in potential energy as the forces try to bring the atoms back to equilibrium. This results in a minimum potential energy state at the equilibrium distance.


When a ball is thrown up in the air what happens to the kinetic energy and potential energy?

When a ball is thrown up in the air, its kinetic energy decreases as it moves against gravity due to its speed reducing. At the same time, its potential energy increases as it gains height and moves further away from the Earth's surface. As the ball reaches its highest point, its kinetic energy is at a minimum and potential energy is at a maximum.


Why gravitational potential at earth surface is zero?

The gravitational potential at Earth's surface is considered to be zero as it is the reference point from which gravitational potential energy is measured. Any object at Earth's surface has the potential to fall due to gravity, and this potential energy is typically defined as zero at Earth's surface for convenience in calculations.


What is the energy change in the spinning spiral?

The energy change in a spinning spiral is converted between potential energy and kinetic energy as the spiral moves up and down due to its spinning motion. At the top point of the spiral, the potential energy is at its maximum, while the kinetic energy is at its minimum. Conversely, at the bottom point of the spiral, the kinetic energy is at its maximum, while the potential energy is at its minimum.

Related Questions

What is the difference between a local energy minimum and a global energy minimum in the context of energy optimization?

In energy optimization, a local energy minimum is a point where the energy is lower than in its immediate surroundings, but not necessarily the lowest overall. A global energy minimum is the point with the lowest energy value in the entire system. It is important to find the global minimum to achieve the most efficient energy optimization.


What is the potential on the surface of the earth?

There is no absolute measure for potential energy. The calculation for potential energy depends on the chosen reference level. Quite often, the Earth's surface is chosen as the reference level - in this case, an object on the surface will have zero potential energy.


Is potential energy on the surface of earth is always zero?

That depends on what reference level you have chosen. If the (arbitrary) reference level you chose is Earth's surface, then anything on the Earth's surface has zero potential energy. If you choose some higher reference level, an object on Earth's surface has a negative potential energy. If you choose a lower reference level, an object on Earth's surface would have a positive potential energy.


Why potential energy is minimum at equilibrium distance?

At equilibrium distance, the forces between atoms or molecules are balanced, resulting in stable and minimum potential energy. Any deviation from this distance would cause a change in potential energy as the forces try to bring the atoms back to equilibrium. This results in a minimum potential energy state at the equilibrium distance.


As a planet approaches perihelion does it potential energy increase or decrease?

At perihelion, the planet is closer to the Sun, and moves faster, that means that the potential energy is at a minimum, and the kinetic energy at a maximum. The sum of kinetic + potential energy, of course, remains constant.At perihelion, the planet is closer to the Sun, and moves faster, that means that the potential energy is at a minimum, and the kinetic energy at a maximum. The sum of kinetic + potential energy, of course, remains constant.At perihelion, the planet is closer to the Sun, and moves faster, that means that the potential energy is at a minimum, and the kinetic energy at a maximum. The sum of kinetic + potential energy, of course, remains constant.At perihelion, the planet is closer to the Sun, and moves faster, that means that the potential energy is at a minimum, and the kinetic energy at a maximum. The sum of kinetic + potential energy, of course, remains constant.


What is potential energy on the surface of the earth?

There is no absolute measure for potential energy. The calculation for potential energy depends on the chosen reference level. Quite often, the Earth's surface is chosen as the reference level - in this case, an object on the surface will have zero potential energy.


Potential energy is at a minimum when?

i don't have an idea but i believe it is when they are stable


What is potential energy dependent an object's weight and distance from earth's surface?

Gravitational potential energy.


When a ball is thrown up in the air what happens to the kinetic energy and potential energy?

When a ball is thrown up in the air, its kinetic energy decreases as it moves against gravity due to its speed reducing. At the same time, its potential energy increases as it gains height and moves further away from the Earth's surface. As the ball reaches its highest point, its kinetic energy is at a minimum and potential energy is at a maximum.


Why gravitational potential at earth surface is zero?

The gravitational potential at Earth's surface is considered to be zero as it is the reference point from which gravitational potential energy is measured. Any object at Earth's surface has the potential to fall due to gravity, and this potential energy is typically defined as zero at Earth's surface for convenience in calculations.


An example of kinetic energy continuously being changed to potential energy and back again might be?

A pendulum is a classic example where kinetic energy is continually converted to potential energy and vice versa. As the pendulum swings, it reaches its highest point where it has maximum potential energy and minimum kinetic energy, and at the lowest point of its swing, the opposite is true with maximum kinetic energy and minimum potential energy.


What is potential energy dependent upon an objects weight and distance from earths surface?

Gravitational potential energy.