Why do electrons obey Fleming's left hand rule?

[jtbell]

A Google search for "derivation of Lorentz force law" led me to a fairly recent paper (within the last 15 years) by J. H. Field:

https://arxiv.org/pdf/physics/0409103.pdf

The math is surely above the OP's level, but the introduction may nevertheless make for interesting reading. The question "why is the magnetic force law the way it is" is a rather deep question, and it turns out you have to use relativity and some assumptions in order to "answer" it.

 

[jerromyjon]

Yeah, I think I'm an idiot now...

 

[jerromyjon]

The math is surely above the OP's level, but the introduction may nevertheless make for interesting reading. The question "why is the magnetic force law the way it is" is a rather deep question, and it turns out you have to use relativity and some assumptions in order to "answer" it.

Yeah, It is easier than that.

 

[jerromyjon]

We use the same vector representation for angular momentum.

Thanks. That analogy, it was what "clued me in". That seems like why chiral fermions is a problem, as well. I might be jumping off a ledge, but it seems applicable...

 

[tech99]

You are not alone. I still have not found any logical explanation, only "That's just the way it is." Just to be clear the simplified question is "Why is the force up and not down" as in this image... it logically could be either direction.
View attachment 215014

My previous post explains in terms of electrostatics why it happens that way.
If you have a wire carrying a current, it contains moving charges. If another charge tries to approach it at right angles, it finds itself dragged along by the current. This occurs because of electrostatic action combined with some simple Relativity.

 

[jerromyjon]

To detect a magnetic field then you need something else in your empty space.

And now with two other aspects (a current carrying conductor, and an EMF), I have a sense of the angular relationship to have a more intuitive understanding of the magnetic field.

I am indebted to "jartsa" in yesterday's Classical Physics for bringing the above paper to my attention.

As I am as well to the both of you. I bookmarked it for further study. :-)

If the answer is yes then another angle to the question is how this magnetic field knows to curve in a particular direction.

Simply by charge. An electron goes one way and a positron goes the other. Can you follow the rotation to determine which is which because I still get confused...