In physics, a pair potential is a function that describes the potential energy of two interacting objects. Examples of pair potentials include the Coulomb's law in electrodynamics, Newton's law of universal gravitation in mechanics, the Lennard-Jones potential and the Morse potential.
Pair potentials are very common in physics; exceptions are very rare. An example of a potential energy function that is not a pair potential is the three-body Axilrod-Teller potential. Another example is the Stillinger-Weber potential for silicon which includes the angle in a triangle of silicon atoms as a parameter.
Famous quotes containing the words pair and/or potential:
“Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves
That could not live asunder day or night.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Silence is as full of potential wisdom and wit as the unhewn marble of great sculpture. The silent bear no witness against themselves.”
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)