Are Electron Orbitals Static or Dynamic?

AI Thread Summary
Electron orbitals are not static; they exhibit dynamic behavior relative to the nucleus. Instead of being fixed in place, orbitals can change positions within their energy levels, akin to being attached to a free axis rather than being nailed down. The relative spins between nuclear and orbital wave functions can remain constant, but other degrees of freedom allow for movement. This indicates that orbitals are influenced by various factors, leading to a more fluid understanding of their behavior. Overall, electron orbitals are best understood as dynamic entities rather than static attachments to the nucleus.
Ryan Reed
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Do the orbitals of electrons change positions within their energy level relative to the nucleus or are they statically "attached" to the nucleus? To try and put this into perspective, would the orbitals of the electrons be like nailing a balloon(orbital) straight to the ball(nucleus) or nailing it to a free axis attached to the ball? Or would it be neither?
 
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I think there's a free axis. The relative spins between the nuclear and orbital wave functions can be fixed, but the other degrees of freedom are not constrained.
 
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