Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 40 - All About Atoms - Problems - Page 1247: 15b

Answer

$125.26^{\circ}$

Work Step by Step

Electrons are spin $\frac{1}{2}$ particle. The magnitude of spin angular momentum of an electron is given by $S=\sqrt {s(s+1)}\hbar$ or, $S=\sqrt {\frac{1}{2}(\frac{1}{2}+1)}\hbar$ or, $S=\frac{\sqrt 3}{2}\hbar$ If magnetic field is along $z$-axis, the the $z$ component of spin angular momentum is given by $S_z=m_s\hbar$ $\implies S_z=\pm\frac{\hbar}{2}\;\;(\because m_s=\pm\frac{1}{2}$) Let $\theta$ be the angle between angle between the electron spin angular momentum vector and the magnetic field in a Stern–Gerlach experiment. Therefore, $S_z=S\cos\theta$ $\cos\theta=\frac{S_z}{S}$ Now, the higher angle appears at $S_z=-\frac{\hbar}{2}$ Therefore, $\cos\theta=-\frac{\frac{\hbar}{2}}{\frac{\sqrt 3}{2}\hbar}$ $\theta =\cos^{-1}\Big(-\frac{1}{\sqrt 3}\Big)\approx125.26^{\circ}$ Therefore, the higher angle is $125.26^{\circ}$
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