Definition
The effective potential is defined in the following way:
- L is the angular momentum
- r is the distance between the two masses
- m is the mass of the orbiting body
- U(r) is the general form of the potential
The effective force, then, is the negative gradient of the effective potential:
Where denotes a unit vector in the radial direction.
Read more about this topic: Effective Potential
Famous quotes containing the word definition:
“Scientific method is the way to truth, but it affords, even in
principle, no unique definition of truth. Any so-called pragmatic
definition of truth is doomed to failure equally.”
—Willard Van Orman Quine (b. 1908)
“No man, not even a doctor, ever gives any other definition of what a nurse should be than this—”devoted and obedient.” This definition would do just as well for a porter. It might even do for a horse. It would not do for a policeman.”
—Florence Nightingale (1820–1910)
“... we all know the wag’s definition of a philanthropist: a man whose charity increases directly as the square of the distance.”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)