5.4 Magnetic Field

Learning Objectives

Right Hand Rules - Magnetic Force

  • hold your right hand as if you are going to shake hands.
  • Place your hand so that the four fingers point in the direction of the field and the thumb in the direction of the velocity.
  • The direction away from the palm is the direction of the force.
  • hold your right hand as the left picture, but then bend the middle finger at right angles to your palm.
  • The middle finger now represents the force, the index finger the field and the thumb the velocity.
  • curl the right-hand fingers so that they rotate from the vector v to the vector B
  • The direction of the thumb is the direction of the force.

Right Hand Rule - Magnetic Field and Current

  • The right-hand grip rule for the magnetic field around a straight current-carrying wire. The thumb is in the direction of the current. The fingers curl in the direction of the magnetic field.
  • The right-hand grip rule for the magnetic field around a solenoid. The fingers curl in the direction of the current. The thumb points in the direction of the magnetic field.