• Students investigate the effect of a uniform magnetic field on a spin system

To design experiments that investigate the effect of a uniform magnetic field on spin for both spin-1/2 and spin-1 particles.

• Spins Lab 2 & 3

• Computers with the Spins OSP software
• A handout for each student

• Students should design their own experiment to determine the effect of the magnetic field. Experiment 2 of Lab 2 should have given them some experience that will help them to do this. Rather than provide a method, ask the students to design and perform their own experiments. They should treat this as a puzzle to be cracked.
• The magnetic field variable in the program is proportional to the spin precession angle $\omega_{0}t$, which is the Larmor frequency and the time of interaction. The Larmor frequency is proportional to the magnetic field strength. For Spin-1/2, the angle is $10^\circ$ times the shown value. For Spin-1, the angle is $5^\circ$ times the shown value.

This is a lab that is designed to be used in a 2 hour lab block. For a shorter version of this same activity that can be used in the midst of lectures, see Determining how a $\vec{B}$ Field Changes a Spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ Particle's State.