Angles made by angular momentum vector with magnetic field

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the angles that the orbital angular momentum vector (L) makes with the z-axis for l=3, where the magnetic field is aligned along the z-axis. The user derived angles using the cosine function for various magnetic quantum numbers (m(l)), resulting in angles of 30, 54.7, and 73.2 degrees. However, the book provides different values of 60, 35.3, and 16.8 degrees, leading to a belief that the book may have used sine instead of cosine or defined the angle differently. The user concludes that the book's answers appear incorrect based on their calculations and graphical representation. The discussion highlights a potential discrepancy between calculated and textbook values regarding angular momentum and magnetic fields.
Amith2006
Messages
416
Reaction score
2

Homework Statement



1) For l=3, find the possible angles that the orbital angular momentum vector(L) makes with the z axis? Here the magnetic field acts along the z axis. l is the orbital quantum number.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I solved it in the following way:
Let m(l) represent the magnetic quantum number. Phi is the angle between L and z axis. For l=3, m(l)=-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3
m(l)x(h/2(pi)) = L[cos(phi)]{[lx(l+1)]^(1/2)}(h/2(pi))
i.e. cos(phi) = m(l)/{[lx(l+1)]^(1/2)}
For m(l) = 3,
Cos(phi) = 3/(12^(1/2))
phi = 30 degrees
For m(l) = 2,
Cos(phi) = 2/(12^(1/2))
phi = 54.7 degrees

For m(l) = 1,
Cos(phi) = 1/(12^(1/2))
phi = 73.2 degrees
But the answer given in my book is 60, 35.3 and 16.8 degrees. I would get this answer if I take sine instead of cosine.
 

Attachments

  • untitled.PNG
    untitled.PNG
    925 bytes · Views: 809
Physics news on Phys.org
I think your answers are correct. If I draw it out to scale, I get your values for theta. Either they made a mistake by using sin, or are for some reason defining the angle in a different place (not between L and Lz). So personally I think the book is wrong.
 
Thanx buddy.
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top