The energy of interaction of two atoms a distance r apart can be written as:
E(r) = −a/r + b/r7
where a and b are constants.
(a) Show that for the particles to be in equilibrium, r = ro = (7b/a)1/6
(b) In stable equilibrium, show that the energy of attraction is seven times that of the repulsion in contrast to the forces of attraction and repulsion being equal.
