Angles made by angular momentum vector with magnetic field

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the angles that the orbital angular momentum vector (L) makes with the z-axis for an orbital quantum number (l) of 3. The magnetic quantum numbers (m(l)) range from -3 to 3, leading to calculated angles of 30 degrees, 54.7 degrees, and 73.2 degrees using the cosine function. However, the book provides different angles of 60 degrees, 35.3 degrees, and 16.8 degrees, suggesting a potential error in the book's methodology, possibly involving the sine function instead of cosine. The consensus is that the calculations presented in the forum are accurate.

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Amith2006
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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.
 

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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.
 

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