Electron orbital magnetic moment

In summary, the question is asking for the magnitude of the orbital magnetic moment of an electron with a magnetic quantum number m=2. The solution involves using the equation mu=eL/2m, with the z component of the magnetic moment being used to find the magnitude. This may be confusing as usually the angular momentum L is used to find the magnitude. It is possible that the solution is incorrect or that the question was misread and actually asked for the z-component of the magnetic moment.
  • #1
oddiseas
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Homework Statement



An electron has a magnetic quantum number m=2.What is the magnitude of the orbital magnetic moment.

Homework Equations



mu=eL/2m


The Attempt at a Solution



Now i figured that the above equation gives the magnitude of the orbital moment and the equation for the z component gives us the direction in which it points. The solution is eh/m, which means that the z component was used to find the magnitude. This has me confused, because with the angular momentum we use L,to find the magnitude and L(z) for the z component.
Why have they used the z component of the magnetic moment to find the magnitude?
 
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  • #2

1. What is the electron orbital magnetic moment?

The electron orbital magnetic moment is a measure of the strength and direction of the magnetic field produced by the orbital motion of an electron around an atomic nucleus.

2. How is the electron orbital magnetic moment calculated?

The electron orbital magnetic moment is calculated using the equation μ = -e/2m * L, where μ is the magnetic moment, e is the charge of the electron, m is the mass of the electron, and L is the angular momentum of the electron.

3. What is the significance of the electron orbital magnetic moment?

The electron orbital magnetic moment is significant because it contributes to the overall magnetic field of an atom, which can affect the behavior of the atom in a magnetic field and play a role in various physical phenomena.

4. How does the electron orbital magnetic moment differ from the spin magnetic moment?

The electron orbital magnetic moment is due to the orbital motion of the electron, while the spin magnetic moment is due to the intrinsic spin of the electron. They have different values and contribute differently to the overall magnetic moment of an atom.

5. Can the electron orbital magnetic moment be observed?

No, the electron orbital magnetic moment cannot be directly observed because it is a quantum mechanical property. However, its effects can be observed in various physical phenomena, such as the splitting of spectral lines in a magnetic field.

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