CRC Press eBooks

Angular Momentum

Steven M. Pascal

Published Jul 12, 2023• 0 citations

Abstract

The motion in the angular dimensions described by the solutions in Chapter 14 are related to angular momentum. We explore that relationship in this chapter. This gives insight into the angular TISE, showing that the equation amounts to the classical equation relating angular momentum, moment of inertia, and rotational kinetic energy: KE = L 2 /2I. This also shows that angular momentum is both conserved and quantized in a radial potential. These quantized angular momenta levels are well known to students of chemistry as the orbitals, for which the orbital angular momentum quantum number equals 0, 1, 2, and 3 for the s, p, d, and f orbital, respectively. This quantum number represents the amount of orbital angular momentum of the electron, but the calculation is a little bit more complicated, and is related to the separation constants introduced in Chapter 14 .

DOI: 10.1201/9781003356172-19

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