Potential energy — UPSC Physics Optional CSE 1996 Paper I

The potential energy for the interaction between two gas molecules can be represented by the function. \phi(r) = -\phi_0 \left[ 2 \left(\frac{r_0}{r}\right)^6 - \left(\frac{r_0}{r}\right)^{12} \right] Where \phi_0 and r_0 are constant. Prove that for small oscillations the frequency is given by \omega = \left( \frac{144 \phi_0}{m r_0^2} \right)^{1/2} Where m is mass of each molecule.