SEARCH Articles Figures Tables Attraction—repulsion potentials as a function of distance between particle centers. Curve 1 represents the attractive potential caused by van der Waals forces, curve 2 is the repulsive potential caused by double-layer forces, and curve 3 is the resultant force experienced by the two particles. [Publishers Imprint] See Also: Attraction—repulsion potentials as a function of distance between particle centers. Curve 1 represents the attractive potential caused by van der Waals forces, curve 2 is the repulsive potential caused by double-layer forces, and curve 3 is the resultant force experienced by the two particles.