Talk:Right-hand rule

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[edit] New diagram

The existing diagram is problematic in that the orientation of the axies is ambiguous since each is just a line. It needs something more to make them pop out. —BenFrantzDale 04:41, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

Is this better? –Gustavb 03:56, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

YES! MUCH BETTER! 67.62.240.136 21:33, 28 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Screws are when I use the rule most

Vehicle: Well, on the other side of the vehicle it is different! Also mention that how some of us remember how to turn a screw is to stick up our right thumb... --User:Jidanni 2006-04-20


[edit] Direction associated with Rotation

Change "shortest" to "shorter" and "over" to "through"

There are two and only two possible arcs for measuring the angle from a to b, one sweeping clockwise, the other counterclockwise. With only two possibilities "shorter" is the appropriate adjective. If clockwise sweep is shorter, then counterclockwise sweep is longer, and vice-versa. "through" is probably is a better usage compared to "over". Subhash 23:41, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Direction associated with Rotation

Add "clockwise and counterclockwise"

There are two and only two possible rotations in the coordinate planes: so at least for engineering computations, these two senses, clockwise and counterclockwise ought to be incorporated in the definition. Any one inclined to edit this out ought, in the very least state if there are more possibilities in 3-dimensional space, that is 3 coordinate planes. Subhash 00:54, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Applications of the Right-hand rule

Add phrase "by choosing the shorter angle, 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise"

There are two and only two choices in determining y-axis with known or arbitrarily chosen x-axis one rotating 90 degrees clockwise, other 90 degrees counterclockwise. If someone decides to edit this out, he/she has the obligation to suggest other possibilities of determining the y-axis. This edit is in preparation for adding, to this article:

"Alternate Engineering Definition of Left and Right-hand rules for orthogonal Cartesian Coordinate Systems"

and eventually add to the Cross Product article unambiguous and unique correlation between sign of torque and rotational sense, i.e. clockwise or counterclockwise. Subhash 00:55, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Picture and discussion both correct, but don't cohere, implying bad pedagogy

The forefinger/middle finger/thumb method is described in words as I learned it.

But the color image of the technique shows another variation, where the thumb points in direction of a. That's another correct technique,but it doesn't jive with the words in the text.

I would edit but I can't edit an image very easily.

[edit] Third application of right-hand rule?

The article mentions that there are three applications of the rule, but only seems to list two. The edit in which it was added was extremely small, only changing the word "two" to "three"129.123.210.30 05:24, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Direction associated with an ordered pair of directions" part is hard to understand

I'm trying to figure out how this rule is supposed to have a purpose. The description of how to make my right hand look like that picture doesn't seem to work out properly. If the thumb is along the a axis in the picture, how does that indicate c? What am I supposed to find out by positioning my hand and fingers this way? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 203.220.148.78 (talk) 22:39, 7 March 2007 (UTC).

[edit] This article needs cleaning

I am not familiar enough with the topic to understand this article in its present form, let alone try and rewrite it. The stuff that is here at the moment is very technical even though it sounds like it is a technique for simplification. Could more specific used be added, as opposed to the generalisation that is present at the moment. Conrad.Irwin 11:15, 5 June 2007 (UTC) Forgot to sign

[edit] Right hand rules

These are the four main right hand rules which we learnt in physics. theres probably more though:

1) In a wire (current carrying conductor), the thumb indicates the direction of current, and the fingers wrap around to form the direction of magnetic field.

2) In an electromagnet, the thumb points to the north side of the magnet, and the fingers wrap around to form the direction which the current flows (through the coiled wire).

3) For a wire in an extended field, or for a DC motor, the hand is stretched out such that the thumb and index finger are perpendicular. The thumb indicates the direction of of current, and the fingers indicate the direction of magnetic field. The force applied to the wire is denoted by the "slap" of the palm, that is, the direction which the palm pushes towards.

4) For a generator or a charged particle, the hand is positioned in the same way as in 3). The thumb denotes the velocity, the fingers are magnetic field, and the direction of the "palm slap" is the direction in which the positive charge flows (so if the particle is negatively charged, it moves in the opposite direction). I heart duff 08:07, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

These are all special applications of the same rule. — Laura Scudder ☎ 20:35, 11 June 2007 (UTC)
Let's not forget the right-hand-rule associated with the cross-product. !jim 21:30, 21 June 2007 (UTC)