Orbit and Orbital: Overview, Questions, Preparation

This chapter has multiple topics listed below:

Laws of Physics Law of Conservation of Mass Biot Savart Law Ideal Gas Law Radioactive Decay Law Continuity Equation Charge Definition Mach Number Chandrasekhar Limit Poissons Ratio Stefan Boltzmann Law Stokes Law Derivation Vectors Orbit and Orbital Sound Definition Quantum Number Definition Thermonuclear Reaction Time Period of Simple Pendulum ...

Rajdeep Das

Updated on Aug 20, 2021 11:46 IST

Table of Contents

Topic Name: Orbit and orbital
Difference between orbital and orbit
Orbit and orbital for Class 12
Illustrated Examples
FAQs

Topic Name: Orbit and orbital

Orbital is a wave function in physics that depicts two electrons’ properties in an atomic nucleus in a substance. An orbital is often illustrated as a three-dimensional area or surface. There is a more than 90 % probability that the electron would be found.

Orbital and orbit are both very different from each other. People often get confused while using these terms and understanding them.

Orbit is a path in which electrons rotate around the surface of the nucleus of an atom. In orbit, all atoms rotate or revolve around it systematically. An orbital is an area where there is a probability of finding an electron within the atom.

In simple words, the orbit is present in the nucleus of an atom and revolves around it. Orbital, on the other hand, could be present in the atom or not. Orbit has a fixed mass, and the mass of an orbital is unknown but could be found out.

Difference between orbital and orbit

Orbit	Orbital
Orbit is a path for electrons to rotate around the surface of a nucleus in an atom.	Orbital is a path where there is a possibility for an electron to be found.
It is a simple round presentation of an electron around the nucleus in an atom.	It is a wave function and is illustrated as a three-dimensional motion.
Orbit goes against the theory of Heisenberg’s Principles.	Orbital agrees with the theory of Heisenberg’s Principle.
Orbit cannot explain the shape of molecules because of its non-directional property.	Orbitals are directional by nature, and the shape of the molecules can be found out.
The atomic structure can only see the shape of the orbits of the atom.	The shapes of the orbitals include s, p, d, and f orbitals.
Orbits are either circular or elliptical in shape.	Orbitals can be of different shapes and sizes—for example, spherical, dumbbell, and double dumbbell.
Orbits have a fixed mass and can be easily found out.	The mass of the orbitals is unknown but is likely to be found out.

Orbit and orbital for Class 12

The chapter of ‘Matter and Energy’ holds a weightage of 6 marks. This chapter includes one objective type question (1 mark), one very short question (2 marks), and one short question of 3 marks.

Illustrated Examples

Example 1: Illustrate probability density plots for 1s and 2s atomic orbitals.

Answer:

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Example 2: Illustrate boundary surface diagrams for 1s and 2s atomic orbitals.

Answer:

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Example 3: Illustrate boundary surface diagrams for three 2ps orbitals.

Answer:

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FAQs

Q: What’s the probability that there would be an electron in the orbital?

A: An orbital is often illustrated as a three-dimensional area or surface. There is a more than 90 % probability that the electron would be found.

Q: What do you mean by Orbit?

A: Orbit is a path in which electrons rotate around the surface of the nucleus of an atom. In orbit, all atoms rotate or revolve around it systematically.

Q: What do you mean by Orbital?

A: Orbital is a wave function in physics, that depicts two electrons’ properties in an atomic nucleus in a substance. An orbital is often illustrated as a three-dimensional area or surface.

Q: What’s the difference between Orbit and Orbital in terms of atoms?

A: In simple words, the orbit is present in an atom’s nucleus and revolves around it. orbital, on the other hand, could be present in the atom or not. Orbit has a fixed mass, and the mass of an orbital is unknown but could be found out.

Q: What’s the relationship of Orbits and Orbitals with Heisenberg’s Principles?

A: Orbit goes against Heisenberg’s Principles, and Orbital’s theory agrees with Heisenberg’s principal theory.