Why is the orbital angular momentum $l$ equal to zero for electrons in the $s$ state? Does it mean that the electrons aren't actually orbiting?
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1You might find something here: http://physics.stackexchange.com/q/109316/ – hb20007 May 12 '14 at 19:09
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It is the definition of s state. – user26143 May 12 '14 at 19:55
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This will help: http://physics.stackexchange.com/q/105703/ – student1 May 12 '14 at 20:12
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2Electrons are not "orbiting" in the classical sense in any of the low angular momentum states, though at high angular momentum orbitals become more and more like classical orbits. – dmckee --- ex-moderator kitten May 12 '14 at 22:14
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An s orbital can be understood as a degenerate orbit: momentum is everywhere collinear with the position vector. In classical mechanics it is a free fall with zero tangential velocity. – Incnis Mrsi Aug 20 '14 at 16:03
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I would think of it as oscillating instead of orbiting, like a quantum harmonic oscillator. Or think of it as the limit of elliptical eccentricity approaching one, with the electron passing through the nucleus, basically the way Sommerfeld did, if you want to think classically.
DavePhD
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