Final answer:
Traditional measurements of electron spin are done by observation of the magnetic effects, such as the splitting of spectral lines and interaction with external magnetic fields. There is no known method to directly measure the electron spin without considering its magnetic moment, as these properties are inherently linked.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question revolves around whether there is a direct measurement of electron spin without relying on magnetic moment. Traditional measurement of electron spin indeed involves the splitting of an electron beam using a magnet, which creates two beams corresponding to the two possible orientations of the electron's intrinsic spin, often referred to as spin up and spin down.
These orientations are also described by the fourth quantum number, ms. The magnetic dipole moment that arises due to the electron's spin is what gets measured and from which the direction of spin is inferred.
The magnitude of the overall electron spin can only have one value, related to the spin quantum number, with one state having a z component in the positive direction (spin quantum number of +1), and the other having a z component in the negative direction (spin quantum number of -1).
This magnetic moment interacts with external magnetic fields, causing energy differences that can be observed in spectral line splitting, known as fine structure splitting. Currently, there is no known method to measure the electron spin that does not involve its magnetic properties, primarily because the spin of an electron is intrinsically linked to its magnetic moment.