Understanding the Right Hand Rule: A Simple Explanation and Shortcut Method

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on understanding the Right Hand Rule, with participants seeking resources for better comprehension. One user suggests that a simple Google search for "right hand rule" will yield numerous helpful explanations. They also provide a mnemonic involving the analogy of firing a gun to illustrate the rule's application in determining the direction of the magnetic field. Additionally, they mention that while vector math can be useful, the Right Hand Rule serves as a practical check for understanding. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of finding effective methods to grasp this fundamental concept in physics.
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Does anyone know of a good site that explains this rule? I just don't get it at all. Better yet, is there some way you can know the direction of the magnetic field without doing it
 
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Alt+F4 said:
Does anyone know of a good site that explains this rule? I just don't get it at all. Better yet, is there some way you can know the direction of the magnetic field without doing it

I believe you'll get tons of answers to your question just by typing 'right hand rule' into google. :smile:
 
Also -- one of my favorites is to think of things as firing a gun. You point along the first vector with your index finger, your middle finger is in the trigger pointing to towards the second vector. When you fire, your arm swings up and the gun flys up in the direction where your thumb is pointing... aim x fire = recoil. You could also just crank through the vector math keeping track of the unit vectors along (x,y,z)... and while a good practice, that's not as much fun... and the right hand rule is a good check to know anyways.
 

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