Join WhatsApp Icon JEE WhatsApp Group
Question 12

The magnetic moment of an electron ($$e$$) revolving in an orbit around nucleus with an orbital angular momentum is given by

We need to find the relation between the magnetic moment and the orbital angular momentum of an electron revolving around a nucleus.

An electron moving in a circular orbit constitutes a current loop whose magnetic moment is given by $$\mu_L = iA$$, where $$i$$ is the current and $$A$$ is the area of the orbit.

The current due to the electron moving with period $$T$$ is $$i = \frac{e}{T} = \frac{ev}{2\pi r}$$, and the area of the circular orbit is $$A = \pi r^2$$.

Substituting these expressions gives $$\mu_L = \frac{ev}{2\pi r} \times \pi r^2 = \frac{evr}{2}$$.

Since the orbital angular momentum is $$L = mvr$$, it follows that $$vr = \frac{L}{m}$$, and therefore $$\mu_L = \frac{eL}{2m}$$.

For a negatively charged electron, the magnetic moment is opposite in direction to the angular momentum, so $$\vec{\mu}_L = -\frac{e\vec{L}}{2m}$$.

Hence, the correct answer is Option B.

Get AI Help

Create a FREE account and get:

  • Free JEE Mains Previous Papers PDF
  • Take JEE Mains paper tests

50,000+ JEE Students Trusted Our Score Calculator

Predict your JEE Main percentile, rank & performance in seconds

Ask AI

Ask our AI anything

AI can make mistakes. Please verify important information.