Available online
Description
The programme examines the shapes of atoms as predicted by quantum mechanics.
The programme examines the shapes of atoms as predicted by quantum mechanics.
| Module code and title: | SM351, Quantum theory and atomic structure |
|---|---|
| Item code: | SM351; 09 |
| First transmission date: | 02-08-1974 |
| Published: | 1974 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:26 |
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| Producer: | Edward Smith |
| Contributors: | Alan Cooper; Alan Durrant |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | 3-D representations; Atomic shapes; Chemical bonding; Magnetic behaviour; Schroedinger's equation |
| Footage description: | Alan Cooper introduces the programme. Cooper explains how the spherically symmetric potential of the electron allows the wave function to be separated and written as the product of factors. The three spatial components of the wave equation are captioned. Alan Durrant examined the forms of these components for specific states of the hydrogen atom. He uses several polar diagrams to represent functions. Durrant shows several 3-D shapes which are analogous to the functions shown in the polar diagrams. Durrant looks at the product of the function and combines the sequence into a model. Alan Cooper, using a drawing board, looks at the time variation in the Schrodinger equation in order to work out a more realistic model for the shape of the hydrogen atom. Alan Durrant looks at angular probability densities and how these depend on the quantum number m which determines the component of angular momentum in the Z direction. Several models are shown for the values. Alan Cooper discusses the way in which angular momentum for various atomic shapes reflects the magnetic behaviour of atoms. He uses a drawing board for his calculations. The programme concludes with a computer generated representation of the m = ± 3 wave function. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/71405 |
| Production number: | 00525_1146 |
| Videofinder number: | 1049 |
| Available to public: | no |
