A simplified approach to the question of how lis related to angular momentum – due to P. W. Milonni and Richard Feynman – can be stated as follows: If can take on only those values mlh, whereml=0,±1,±l , then its square is allowed only valuesml2h2, and the average of localid="1659178449093" l2should be the sum of its allowed values divided by the number of values,2l+1 , because there really is no preferred direction in space, the averages of Lx2andLy2should be the same, and sum of all three should give the average of role="math" localid="1659178641655" L2. Given the sumrole="math" localid="1659178770040" 1Sn2=N(N+1)(2N+1)/6, show that these arguments, the average of L2 should be l(l+1)h2.

Short Answer

Expert verified

Given the sum 1Sn2=N(N+1)(2N+1)/6the average of L2isl(l+1)h2.

Step by step solution

01

Average of Lz2 :

The Azimuthal quantum number specifies the shape and angular momentum of the orbital in the space.

Given that,

If L2can take on only those values mlh, where ml=0,±1,±l, then its square is allowed only values ml2h2, and the average of l2 should be the sum of its allowed values divided by the number of values, 2l+1, because there really is no preferred direction in space, the averages of Lx2andLy2 should be the same, and sum of all three should give the average ofL2 .

Where, L is the Orbital angular momentum, Lx is the component of orbital angular momentum along x-axis, Ly is the component of orbital angular momentum along y-axis, Lz is the component of orbital angular momentum along z-axis, l is theAzimuthal quantum number,ml is theMagnetic quantum number.

role="math" localid="1659179529670" Lz2=12l+1ml=-llml2h2

Where, h is Planck’s constant.

Lz2=22l+1ml=-llml2h2=22l+1h2ll+12l+1/6=13h2ll+1

02

Average of  :

It is also given that,

Avg.ofLx2=Avg.ofLy2=Avg.ofLz2 ….. (1)

Hence,

Avg.ofL2=Avg.ofLy2=Avg.ofLz2=3×Avg.ofLx2+Avg.ofLy2+Avg.ofLz2=3×AvgofLz2=3×13h2ll+1=h2ll+1

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A hydrogen atom electron is in a 2p state. If no experiment has been done to establish a z-component of angular momentum, the atom is equally likely to be found with any allowed value of LZ. Show that if the probability densities for these different possible states are added (with equal weighting), the result is independent of both ϕandθ

Here we Pursue the more rigorous approach to the claim that the property quantized according to ml is Lz,

(a) Starting with a straightforward application of the chain rule,

φ=xφ/x+yφy+zφz

Use the transformations given in Table 7.2 to show that

φ=-yx+xy

(b) Recall that L = r x p. From the z-component of this famous formula and the definition of operators for px and py, argue that the operator for Lz is -ihφ..

(c) What now allows us to say that our azimuthal solutioneimlφ has a well-defined z-component of angular momentum and that is value mlh.

In hydrogen’s characteristic spectra, each series - the Lyman, the Balmer, and so on – has a “series limit,” where the wavelengths at one end of the series tend to bunch up, approaching a single limiting value. Is it at the short-wavelength or the long-wavelength end of the series that the series limit occurs, and what is it about hydrogen’s allowed energies that leads to this phenomenon? Does the infinite well have series limits?

Residents of flatworld-a two-dimensional world far, far away-have it easy. Although quantum mechanics of course applies in their world, the equations they must solve to understand atomic energy levels involve only two dimensions. In particular, the Schrodinger equation for the one-electron flatrogen atom is

-h2m1rr(rr)ψ(r,θ)-h2m1r22θ2ψ(r,θ)+U(r)ψ(r,θ)=Eψ(r,θ)

(a) Separate variables by trying a solution of the form ψ(r,θ)=R(r)(θ), then dividing byR(r)(θ) . Show that the θequation can be written

d2dθ2(θ)=C(θ)

Here,(C) is the separation constant.

(b) To be physically acceptable,(θ) must be continuous, which, since it involves rotation about an axis, means that it must be periodic. What must be the sign of C ?

(c) Show that a complex exponential is an acceptable solution for(θ) .

(d) Imposing the periodicity condition find allowed values ofC .

(e) What property is quantized according of C .

(f) Obtain the radial equation.

(g) Given thatU(r)=-b/r , show that a function of the formR(r)=er/a is a solution but only if C certain one of it, allowed values.

(h) Determine the value of a , and thus find the ground-state energy and wave function of flatrogen atom.

An electron is in the 3d state of a hydrogen atom. The most probable distance of the electron from the proton is9ao. What is the probability that the electron would be found between8aoand10ao?

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