In classical molecular dynamics, the effect of the electrons is approximated as one potential energy surface, usually representing the ground state.
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The first can be simply calculated from the free energy surface, the latter is easily accessible from short molecular dynamics simulations
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The total molecular energy can be evaluated as a function of the molecular geometry; in other words, the potential energy surface.
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Reactions of electronically excited molecules often involve conical intersections, around which the potential energy surfaces have the shape of intersecting cones.
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Polypropylene has a relatively slippery " low energy surface " that means that many common glues will not form adequate joints.
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To see the principle of an equal-energy surface at work, imagine gradually increasing the rate of rotation of the bucket from zero.
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This is shown in the picture on the right, where the upper and lower potential energy surfaces are plotted in different colors.
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If the potential energy surfaces are plotted as functions of the two coordinates, they form a cone centered at the degeneracy point.
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Reaction coordinates are often plotted against potential energy profile ( an intersection of a potential energy surface ) associated to the reaction.
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In this meta-model, called an energy surface, a right answer becomes an energy minimum, or a valley at the bottom of a hill.
