Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A comment on the common one-dimensional derivation of the van der Waals forces

  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Physik A Atoms and Nuclei

Abstract

In many physical text-books a simple one-dimensional model is used to derive the characteristic 1/R 7-dependence of the attractive van der Waals forces. We show that this calculation is wrong. The long range forces in this simple model are not attractive but repulsive proportional to 1/R 6. Only a three-dimensional calculation yields the correct behavior.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. London, F.: Z. f. phys. Chem. (B)11, 222 (1930)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Lennard-Jones, J.E.: Proc. phys. Soc. L. A43, 461 (1931)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Herzfeld, K.F.: Größe und Bau der Moleküle, in Hdb. Phys., Bd. XXIV, 2nd ed. pp. 186, edit. Geiger, H., Scheel, K., Berlin: Springer 1933

    Google Scholar 

  4. Born, M.: Moderne Physik, pp. 268, Berlin: Springer 1933

    Google Scholar 

  5. Waldmann, L.: Transporterscheinungen in Gasen von mittlerem Druck, in Hdb. Phys., Bd. XII, pp. 338, edit. Flügge, S. Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1958

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hinshelwood, C.N.: The Structure of Physical Chemistry, pp. 271, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press 1958

    Google Scholar 

  7. Wolkenstein, M.W.: Struktur und physikal. Eigenschaften der Moleküle, pp. 292, Leipzig: Teubner Verlagsgesellschaft 1960

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kortüm, G.: Lehrbuch der Elektrochemie, 4th ed., pp. 95, Weinheim/Bergstr.: Verlag Chemie 1966

    Google Scholar 

  9. Blochinzew, D.I.: Grundlagen der Quantenmechanik, pp. 530, Frankfurt/M.-Zürich: Verlag Harri Deutsch 1966

    Google Scholar 

  10. Moelwyn-Hughes, E.: Physikalische Chemie, pp. 119, Stuttgart: Georg Thieme 1970

    Google Scholar 

  11. Volz, H.: Einführung in die Theoretische Mechanik I, pp. 234, Frankfurt/M.: Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft 1971

    Google Scholar 

  12. Barrow, G.M.: Physikalische Chemie, Teil III, pp. 43, Braunschweig: Friedrich Vieweg+Sohn 1971

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mahanty, J., Ninham, B.W.: Dispersion Forces, pp. 26, London, New York, San Francisco: Academic Press 1976

    Google Scholar 

  14. Eucken, A.: Lehrbuch der Chemischen Physik, I. Bd., 2nd ed., pp. 405, Leipzig: Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft 1938

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kauzmann, W.: Quantum Chemistry, pp. 507, New York: Academic Press Inc. Publ. 1957

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Theoretische Physik der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Deutschland

    M. Reinecke & H. Ruder

Authors
  1. M. Reinecke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Ruder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reinecke, M., Ruder, H. A comment on the common one-dimensional derivation of the van der Waals forces. Z Physik A 282, 127–128 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01408154

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01408154

Keywords

Search

Navigation