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Moving Charges And Magnetism

Question
CBSEENPH12037686

What is the relationship between the current and the magnetic moment of a current carrying circular loop? Use the expression to derive the relation between the magnetic moment of an electron moving in a circle and its related angular momentum?

Solution

Let us assume that an electron of mass 'me' and charge 'e' revolves in a circular orbit of radius 'r' around the positive nucleus in anticlockwise direction. 

 
The angular momentum of the electron due to its orbital motion is given by 
                         L = mevr    ...(i) 

Let the period of orbital motion of the electron be T.
Then, the electron crosses any point on its orbit after every T seconds.

Therefore, orbital motion of electron is equivalent to a current. 
                      I = e.1T
The period of revolution of the electron is given by
                      T = 2πrv 

                 I = e12πr/v = ev2πr 

The area of the electron orbit, A = πr2 

The magnetic dipole moment of the atom is

                  M = IA
          
                  M = ev2πr×πr2 = evr2            ...(ii)
Now, using the equation (i) we have 

                          M = e2meL                     [From I]

In vector rotation
                          M = -e2meL 

which, tells us that the magnetic dipole moment vector is directed in a direction opposite to that of angular momentum vector.