# Talk:Effective potential

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## L not a constant!

In defining the effective force using the effective potential, you have just considered L as a constant! L is actually a function of r. This only makes a difference in the change of sign in this particular case. And while the equation of force is the correct one, since the force (centrifugal) is repulsive, meaning that it has a positive sign, tracing it back to the potential using L's dependence on r should make the centrifugal potential negative. It is required to be negative so that it falls as you go farther, which is gives rise to the Lagrangian points. Tushar Shrotriya (talk) 11:09, 21 February 2014 (UTC)

## Potential and Potential Energy are different things

An effective potential energy "U" would have units of joules in the SI system. An effective potential, which I think should be "V" to distinguish it, would have units of joules per some quantity. For, example, gravitational potential energy is given by

${\displaystyle U_{g}={\frac {Gm_{1}m_{2}}{r}}}$

while gravitational potential would be that value divided by the mass of the test mass

${\displaystyle V_{g}={\frac {Gm}{r}}}$

Effective potential energy and effective potential should be likewise distinguished. What is this article trying to be about?

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