Study the image below and answer the question.

The following is the graph between potential energy between nucleons versus the separation between them. It is seen that the potential energy is a minimum at a distance r_o of about 0.8 fm.

The potential energy versus distance graph is shown. It is seen that the potential energy is a minimum at a distance ro of about 0.8 fm.

In a potential energy versus distance graph, a negative potential energy shows what?

that the force is attractive.

In the potential energy versus inter molecular distance graph, we know that atoms/molecules/particles want to be at optimum distance from each other i.e r₀ and to the left of this position in the graph, we get the repulsive force and to the right would be the attractive force acting between them.

Negative potential energy show attractive force.