Reputed physics tuition that offers JC Physics tuition classes will make it easy for you to learn physics. Once a tutor clears up the basic concept for the student, it will be easier for them to understand the complex topics thereafter. Using this x and y, let’s use the right-hand rule to find the direction of z. If you are crossing a x b, write down the a components in the second row and b components in the third row corresponding to the x,y,z direction. If for example, ax is in the -x direction, simply make the value of ax negative.
Magnetic Field for a Point Charge (Bio-Savart Law)
In the diagram above, B indicates the magnetic field, I indicates the induced current and V indicates the movement of the conductor in the magnetic field. This setup caused the generation of an electromotive force in the conductor which results in an induced flow of current through the moving conductor. Magnetic Field and a conductor (maybe current-carrying or not carrying, may be static or moving) can have different mutual effects in different scenarios, based on some specific conditions. Let’s list down a few such incidents of electromagnetism and the rules defining these incidents. Similarly, When the observer sees at the facing end of the coil, if current flows in the anticlockwise direction, then the facing end of the coil behaves like a North Pole “N” and the second end behaves like the South Pole “S”. In the diagram above, B, I, and F are pointing towards the directions of the magnetic field, Current through the conductor, and the force experienced by the conductor RESPECTIVELY.
Corkscrew Rule
- This will force you to orient your hand in such a way that your thumb will point in the direction of the cross product.
- As a computer engineering major, it is very relevant in my physics class, and although we don’t see the right hand rule in action first-hand, I know it plays a critical role in what we do when designing circuits and can be used to explain things at a molecular level.
- In the diagram above, B indicates the magnetic field, I indicates the induced current and V indicates the movement of the conductor in the magnetic field.
- Here the cause is the current that flows through a straight conductor and the result is the creation of a magnetic field.
- If you are crossing a x b, write down the a components in the second row and b components in the third row corresponding to the x,y,z direction.
- If a charged particle is moving at a certain speed and is under a magnetic field, the right-hand rule can be used to determine the force the particle will experience.
Torque problems are often the most challenging topic for first year physics students. To use the right hand rule in torque problems, take your right hand and point it in thedirection of the position vector (r or d), then turn your fingers in the direction of the force and your thumb will pointtoward the direction of the torque. Now, take your right hand and point your index finger forward (the direction your arm faces), point your thumb up, and point your middle finger perpendicular to your index finger. An experimental setup can be prepared using a horseshoe magnet (or any other type of magnet) and a thick copper wire connected to a battery via a switch. Here we can find that the current-carrying conductor wire deflects due to a force generated by the magnetic field of the magnet present nearby.
Solve first using the right hand rule, and then solve mathematically with the cross product. It’s important for you to be able to envision how the axes are perpendicular. The hardest part of right-hand rule is imagining the different axes and envisioning how they are perpendicular to each other. As a computer engineering major, it is very relevant in my physics class, and although we don’t see the right hand rule in action first-hand, I know it plays a critical role in what we do when designing circuits and can be used to explain things at a molecular level. If you’re personally more of a math person, and you have taken linear algebra or have done determinants before, cross products are essentially taking determinants of a 3×3 matrix. In order to quickly solve a cross product using this alternate method, see the following example.
When an observer looks at the facing end of the solenoid, if current flows in the clockwise direction, the the facing end of the solenoid coil behaves like the South Pole “S” and the second end behaves like the North Pole “N”. If you hold the coil or a solenoid in the right hand so that the four fingers curl around the coil or solenoid, then the curly figures show the direction of the current and the thumb represents the North Pole of the coil. In vector calculus, it is necessary to relate a normal vector of a surface to the boundary curve of the surface. Another misconception about the right-hand rule is that it gives the magnitude of the vector. Finally, some people think that the right-hand rule is only used in physics.
Example Question #2 : Understanding The Right Hand Rules
The thumb points towards the magnetic field line when the fingers are curled up around the wire in the direction of the flow of current. To find whether the axis of rotation is positive or negative, curl your fingers in the direction of rotation and your thumb shows the direction of rotation, i.e. whether rotation is along the positive or negative x y or z direction. (This assumes you already have a coordinate frame defined to see which axis the wheel is rotating around and which direction). In the picture, the particles are coming out of the negative terminal, so they are electrons. You curl your fingers from velocity vector to magnetic field vector to find the direction of magnetic force perpendicular.
Your thumb will point in the direction of the magnetic field lines inside the solenoid. Notethat the magnetic field lines are in the opposite direction outside the solenoid. The right-hand grip rule is used to determine the relationship between the current and the magnetic field based upon the rotational direction. To understand the definition, one must understand the demonstration of the right-hand grip rule. For this, the wire needs to be held in the right hand and the thumb should point towards the direction of the flow of current then curl your fingers around the wire. Now, the curled fingers show the direction of the magnetic field around the wire and how the compass would line-up if placed at that point.
Crossing one component with another component that can be reached clockwise on on the next move around the circle yields a vector third direction. The polarity of a solenoid can also be found by using the Clock rule (also known as the End rule of magnetism). To calculate the cross product from a matrix, multiply each component by its corresponding determinant. Physics can be quite difficult for students to understand because it contains many complex topics which need to be understood thoroughly to remember it.
Keeping your fingers aligned with your forearm, point your fingers in the direction of the first vector (the one that appears before the “×” in the mathematical expression for the cross product; e.g. the A in A x B ). Before we can analyze rigid bodies, we need to learn a little trick to help us with the cross product called the ‘right-hand rule’. We use the right-hand rule when we have two of the axes and need to find the direction of the third. The Right-Hand Rule is an easy way to find the direction of a cross product interaction before doing the math. For any equation involving a cross product, the right hand rule is a valuable tool for finding the direction.
You will see that for $F1$ your thumb points into the page (which is the direction for clockwise motion). But these 2 rules are different and applicable in different situations. The next table lists the important differences between Fleming’s left-hand right hand grip rule and right-hand rules. Now we break up the position vector r into its component vectors along the ┴ (perpendicular) and || (parallel) axes. Structure the three components in a circle and assign a clockwise direction around this circle.

