Interaction energy

<p>In <a href="/facts/Physics/a7aH2y08">physics</a>, interaction energy is the contribution to the total <a href="/facts/Energy/wd8PrQM7">energy</a> that is caused by an <a href="/facts/Fundamental_interaction/WrFEJaFl">interaction</a> between the objects being considered.
</p><p>The interaction energy usually depends on the relative position of the objects. For example, 
  
    
      
        
          Q
          
            1
          
        
        
          Q
          
            2
          
        
        
          /
        
        (
        4
        π
        
          ε
          
            0
          
        
        Δ
        r
        )
      
    
    {\displaystyle Q_{1}Q_{2}/(4\pi \varepsilon _{0}\Delta r)}
  
 is the <a href="/facts/Electrostatics/bxkuW6s4">electrostatic</a> interaction energy between two objects with charges 
  
    
      
        
          Q
          
            1
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle Q_{1}}
  
, 
  
    
      
        
          Q
          
            2
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle Q_{2}}
  
.
</p>

Interaction energy open-in-new

Interaction energy