Right-Hand Rule

Claimed by Jason Lee (Fall 2023)

The Main Idea

The Right-Hand Rule is an easy way to find the direction of a cross product interaction before doing the math. For any equation involving a cross product, the right hand rule is a valuable tool for finding the direction. There are two primary ways of using the right hand rule.

1) The first method is to use your entire right hand. Make shape of a high five with your right hand with your right hand, with your thumb sticking out perpendicular to the direction of your fingers. Align your hand with the first vector listed in the cross product. Then, curl your fingers toward the second vector listed in the cross product without moving your palm. You must rotate your hand to whatever orientation it requires for this to be possible, while keeping your thumb perpendicular to your fingers through the entire process. Your thumb will point in the direction of the cross product. In the example depicted below the cross product points "out" of the page, the same direction as the thumb.

2) The second method is extremely similar to the first. Start by making a thumbs up, and maintain your thumb extended in this way through the entire process. Extend your index (pointer) finger and align it with the first vector in the cross product. Extend your middle finger and align it with the second vector while keeping your ring and pinkie fingers closed. This will force you to orient your hand in such a way that your thumb will point in the direction of the cross product. This is demonstrated below.

A Mathematical Model

The Right-Hand Rule is a technique for modeling the direction of a cross product:

[math]\displaystyle{ \mathbf{u\times v}=(u_2v_3\mathbf{i}+u_3v_1\mathbf{j}+u_1v_2\mathbf{k}) -(u_3v_2\mathbf{i}+u_1v_3\mathbf{j}+u_2v_1\mathbf{k}) }[/math]

The cross product can also be solved in the following form (using u and v):

[math]\displaystyle{ | \mathbf{u} \times \mathbf{v} | = | \mathbf{u} | | \mathbf{v} | \sin (\theta) }[/math]

Cross Product: Alternate Method 1

Alternate methods for computing a cross product exist, though this one is limited to cross products of 3 dimensions.

Structure the three components in a circle and assign a clockwise direction around this circle.

Crossing one component with another component that can be reached clockwise on on the next move around the circle yields a vector third direction.

This can be seen in the picture below.

In order to quickly solve a cross product using this alternate method, see the following example.

Note: order matters in cross products. When crossing two vectors in the counter-clockwise direction the resulting third vector is negative.

Cross Product: Alternate Method 2

Cross Product: Alternate Method 3

If you're personally more of a math person, and you have taken linear algebra or have done determinants before, cross products are essentially taking determinants of a 3x3 matrix.

1. For the first row, write down i, j, k. These are your directional components with "i" representing the +x direction, "j" the +y direction, and "k" the +z direction.

2. If you are crossing a x b, write down the a components in the second row and b components in the third row corresponding to the x,y,z direction. If for example, ax is in the -x direction, simply make the value of ax negative.

3. Then take the determinant of the 3x3 matrix which is shown below. Don't forget that the second term (j) must be negative.

A Computational Model

For a computational model, the Right-Hand Rule is just an easy way to determine the direction of the result of a cross product, but the model below allows you to change the two initial vectors, which the cross product will react to, and it will show that the right hand rule is true for any set of vectors that are not facing the same direction. (Note: Just because you can determine the direction of a cross product using the RHR does NOT mean that every equation involving cross products will end up with that direction. Please make sure to account for any changes in sign, magnitude, or direction when solving cross product equations.

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Examples

Magnetic Field for a Point Charge (Bio-Savart Law)

The equation written in pink in the picture below is the Bio-Savart Rule for a single charged particle which will be later explained in further chapters. As you can see, there is a cross product within the equation, and it can be a little tricky finding the direction of the magnetic field.

Using the Right-Hand rule (alternative 2):

    1. place your palm in the direction of velocity since it is velocity crossed rhat
          2. curl your finger to the direction of rhat
                3. Point your thumb up( perpendicular from your fingers) and this direction is the direction of your magnetic field, assuming that the charge is positive.
                    If your charge is negative, then simply flip the direction of your thumb.

In the picture below, the direction of the magnetic field would be out of the page (+z) if the particle is positively charged. If the charge was an electron (negatively charged), then the direction of the magnetic field would be into the page (-z).

Magnetic Force on a Moving Particle

[math]\displaystyle{ \mathbf{F} = q\mathbf{v} \times \mathbf{B} }[/math]

The direction of the cross product may be found by application of the right hand rule as follows:

1. The index finger points in the direction of the momentum vector qv.
2. The middle finger points in the direction of the magnetic field vector B.
3. The thumb points in the direction of magnetic force F.

For example, for a positively charged particle moving to the right, in a region where the magnetic field points up, the resultant force points out of the page (+z). If it was the same situation, but the particle was negatively charged, the you would flip the direction of your thumb, and the resultant force points into the page (-z).

Magnetic Field made by a Current

[math]\displaystyle{ \mathbf{B} = \frac{\mu_0I}{4\pi}\int_{\mathrm{wire}}\frac{\mathrm{d}\boldsymbol{\ell} \times \mathbf{\hat r}}{r^2}, }[/math]

The direction of the cross product may be found by application of the right hand rule as follows:

1. The thumb points in the direction of current I.
2. The index finger points in the direction of the observation vector r.
3. The middle finger points in the direction of the magnetic field vector B.

Direction of Magnetic Field made by a Current

The direction of curl of the magnetic field can be found using a modified right hand rule:

1. The thumb points in the direction of conventional current.
2. The curl of the fingers indicates the direction of magnetic field at each location surrounding the flow of current.

For example:

1. In the image below, conventional current flows to the left (-x). By pointing your thumb in the -x direction and curling your fingers, the magnetic field curls in the y,z-plane, as shown.

Force on a Current from a Magnetic Field

[math]\displaystyle{ \mathbf{F} = \mathbf{I} \times \mathbf{B} }[/math]

The direction of the cross product may be found by application of the right hand rule as follows:

1. The index finger points in the direction of the current I.
2. The middle finger points in the direction of the magnetic field vector B.
3. The thumb points in the direction of magnetic force F.

For example, for a current moving into the page, in a region where the magnetic field points up, then the force is to the right of the current.

Another Force on a Current from a Magnetic Field

In the situation shown below, we have a current pointing downward or in the negative y direction and we have a magnetic field into the page or in the negative z direction. Instead of using the typical right hand rule, we can use easy cross product method below to find the direction of the force.

Hall Effect Example

In the above picture, you see that all the positive charges accumulated at the top and all the negative charges accumulated to the bottom. You know the direction the particles velocity and magnetic field. Can you find out the charge of the particle using the right hand rule?

In the picture, the particles are coming out of the negative terminal, so they are electrons. This can be verified by using the right hand rule. You curl your fingers from velocity vector to magnetic field vector to find the direction of magnetic force perpendicular. Your thumb is pointing up, but since these are negative charges, its opposite and you flip your hand and you find that the direction of the magnetic force is actually pointing down. Therefore it makes sense that the electrons would accumulate at the bottom since its magnetic force is pushing them towards there.

Connectedness

1. How is the topic connected to something you are interested in?

It's honestly a valuable tool in determining the direction of cross-products which allows me to see if my math is correct. For example, to figure out the direction of the conventional current that flows in a wire whose magnetic field changes the direction of a compass, I would have the use the right-hand rule to help me out.

If a charged particle is moving at a certain speed and is under a magnetic field, the right-hand rule can be used to determine the force the particle will experience.

2. How is it connected to your major?

As a computer engineering major, it is very relevant in my physics class, and although we don't see the right hand rule in action first-hand, I know it plays a critical role in what we do when designing circuits and can be used to explain things at a molecular level.

3. Is there an industrial application?

Using sails for a boat deals with cross-product because when the wind blows, the sails experience angular momentum L = I x w

History

John Ambrose Fleming 1890

John Ambrose Fleming is credited with devising the right-hand rule. He was a professor at the University College, London where he was liked by many of his students. Fleming devised the right hand rule (though Fleming's original version used the left hand) in order to make relationships between current, its magnetic field, and the electromotive force easier to visualize and understand.

Though he was best known for his right-hand rule in which he connected the observation vector, magnetic field, and current, he also had a left-hand rule as well which he used for motors. It connected force, magnetic field, and current.

Fleming's original rule

See Also

External Links

1. https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/physical-processes/magnetism-mcat/a/using-the-right-hand-rule
2. https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-02t-electricity-and-magnetism-spring-2005/lecture-notes/prs_w06d1.pdf
3. http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/semester2/d12_RHR_practice.html

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-hand_rule
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_field
3. https://nationalmaglab.org/education/magnet-academy/history-of-electricity-magnetism/pioneers/john-ambrose-fleming