Fleming’s left-hand rule

E447289

Fleming’s left-hand rule is a mnemonic used in electromagnetism to predict the direction of force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field.

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Statements (42)

Predicate Object
instanceOf mnemonic
rule in electromagnetism
appliesIn electric motors
galvanometers
moving-coil loudspeakers
rail guns and linear motors
appliesTo current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field
associatedWith Lorentz force NERFINISHED
motor effect
assumes straight conductor segment for simple application
uniform magnetic field in region of conductor
basedOn vector cross product between current and magnetic field
category electromagnetic rule
physics mnemonic
clarifies relationship between magnetic field, current, and force directions
contrastedWith Fleming’s right-hand rule
conventionalCurrent positive to negative
directionConvention first finger at right angles to second finger
second finger at right angles to thumb
thumb perpendicular to first and second fingers
educationalUse helps visualize vector directions in 3D
taught in school physics
field electromagnetism
fingerRepresentation first finger represents direction of magnetic field
second finger represents direction of conventional current
thumb represents direction of force or motion
handUsed left hand
hasAlternativeName Fleming’s left-hand motor rule
helpsAvoid sign errors in direction of force
historicalPeriod early 20th century
namedAfter John Ambrose Fleming NERFINISHED
notation FBI mnemonic (Force, B-field, I current) in some texts
relatedConcept Lorentz force law NERFINISHED
right-hand rule for cross products
relatesQuantity electric current
magnetic field
mechanical force
rightHandRuleUsage Fleming’s right-hand rule is used for generators NERFINISHED
usedBy students of physics and electrical engineering
teachers of electromagnetism
usedFor determining direction of motion in electric motors
predicting direction of force on a current-carrying conductor

Referenced by (1)

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John Ambrose Fleming knownFor Fleming’s left-hand rule