# I Averge orbital distance of electrons

#### Iceking20

Summary
Is there anyway to calculate average distance of electrons?
Summary: Is there anyway to calculate average distance of electrons?

I know that we use wave function for orbital to show the probability of finding but my question is there any way to calculate distance between orbitals or energy states?

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#### hutchphd

One can certainly calculate the expectation value for r2-r1

#### mfb

Mentor
One can certainly calculate the expectation value for r2-r1
I suggest calculating $(\vec r_2 - \vec r_1)^2$ to make the result more interesting.

#### hutchphd

Yes I should have explicitly said all powers thereof to get moments of the distribution....thank you.

Staff Emeritus
I think the point mfb was making is that <r1 - r2> is zero by symmetry.

mfb

"Averge orbital distance of electrons"

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