Why Are Fleming's Left and Right Hand Rules Opposite for Generators?

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SUMMARY

Fleming's Left Hand Rule and Right Hand Rule serve distinct purposes in electromagnetism, particularly in the context of generators and motors. The Left Hand Rule applies to motors, indicating the direction of force, magnetic field, and current, while the Right Hand Rule is used for generators, determining the direction of induced current based on the motion of conductors in a magnetic field. The Right Hand Rule can be understood as a reflection of the Left Hand Rule when considering electron flow versus conventional current. This distinction is crucial for accurately applying these rules in practical scenarios.

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  • Understanding of Fleming's Left Hand Rule
  • Familiarity with Fleming's Right Hand Rule
  • Basic knowledge of electromagnetism principles
  • Concept of Lorentz force and its application
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  • Study the applications of Fleming's Left Hand Rule in electric motors
  • Explore the use of Fleming's Right Hand Rule in generators
  • Investigate the Lorentz force law and its implications in electromagnetic theory
  • Learn about the differences between electron flow and conventional current in circuits
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Students of physics, electrical engineers, and educators seeking to clarify the principles of electromagnetism and the application of Fleming's rules in practical situations.

gangsta316
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I think I know what Fleming's left hand rule but how does Fleming's right hand rule come about and why is it opposite for generators? Is Fleming's right hand rule just the left hand rule for electron flow (instead of current) or would it be more proper to use the left hand rule in that case but with current in the opposite direction to electron flow? Also, what about this right hand rule?
http://www.physics.ubc.ca/~outreach/phys420/p420_96/reg/rhr_lor.htm
 
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If you look at the standard Lorentz force with your right hand (F = I x B) in a mirror, you get Fleming's left hand rule.
 

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