Right Hand Rule
A right hand rule is a mnemonic used to memorize a concept. Right hand rules use parts of your right hand to represent directions of variables. These variables changes from rule to rule depending on concept.
Important Notes to Avoid Confusion:
- Be sure you are using your right hand and not your left
- Follow the same direction notation in your answer
- North, east, south, west, into the earth, away from earth
- Up the page, right, down the page, left, into the page, out of the page
- Forward, right, back, left, down, up
Right Hand Rule Configuration 1 Directions
Besides up, down, left, right, we use a circle with center dot to represent an arrow tip coming towards you. A circle and an X represents an arrow going away as you observe the fletching, or rear cross feathers.
In the picture here the thumb is pointing to the right. The forefinger is pointing up and the middle finger is directed towards you. This configuration is used to represent three dimensions.
You will always keep you hand in this configuration and knowing two direction variables help you find a third.
Right Hand Rule Configuration 2 Directions
In this right hand rule the thumb is held in the "thumbs up" position. The thumb is considered forward and the fingers are curled around that direction.
Links
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