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m1 m2
µ is called the reduced mass of the molecule
Rotational Motion of Molecules,
Angular Momentum
Classically, the value of the molecule’s
angular momentum can have any value
L = Iω
Quantum mechanics restricts the values
of the angular momentum to
L J J 1 h J 0 , 1, 2,K
J is an integer called the rotational
quantum number
Rotational Kinetic Energy of
Molecules, Allowed Levels
The allowed values are
h2
Erot J J 1 J 0 , 1, 2,K
2I
The rotational kinetic energy is
quantized and depends on its moment
of inertia
As J increases, the states become
farther apart
Allowed Levels, cont.
For most molecules,
transitions result in radiation
that is in the microwave
region
Allowed transitions are given
by the condition
h2 h2
Erot J 2
J
I 4π I
J 1, 2, 3 ,K
J is the number of the higher
state
Active Figure 43.5
sample
Because of their different masses, different I’s are