We introduce the idea of orbital angular momentum and illustrate its importance in solving the three-dimensional differential equation that is the energy eigenvalue equation for the hydrogen atom. By separating variables in the eigenvalue equation, we isolate the differential equations for the angular variables from the differential equation for the radial variable. We solve the angular equations to discover the spherical harmonics and the angular momentum quantum numbers.
Review the options below to login to check your access.
Log in with your Cambridge Aspire website account to check access.
If you believe you should have access to this content, please contact your institutional librarian or consult our FAQ page for further information about accessing our content.