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Q.Derive an expression for the magnetic dipole moment of a revolving electron.

Telangana TsbieTelangana Board of Intermediate Education 2023Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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A revolving electron acts as a current loop; its magnetic moment is mu = evr/2 = (e/2m)L, proportional to its orbital angular momentum.

Consider an electron of charge e (magnitude) moving with speed v in a circular orbit of radius r around the nucleus.

Step 1 - Equivalent current: The electron completes one revolution in time T = 2pir / v. A charge e passing a point every T seconds constitutes a current

I = e / T = e v / (2 pi r).

Step 2 - Magnetic moment of the loop: A current loop of area A carrying current I has magnetic moment mu = I A. Here A = pi r^2, so

mu = I A = [e v / (2 pi r)] x (pi r^2) = e v r / 2.

Step 3 - In terms of angular momentum: The orbital angular momentum of the electron is L = m v r, so v r = L / m. Substituting,

mu = (e / 2) x (L / m) = (e / 2m) L.

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