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VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Physics => Topic started by: 715761 on July 24, 2010, 11:45:45 pm

Title: Right hand grip rule
Post by: 715761 on July 24, 2010, 11:45:45 pm

Hi everyone :D

I'm getting massively confused with the whole right hand grip rule thing when it comes to solenoids. If your fingers wrap around a wire in the coil, couldn't the direction of the magnetic field be said to be equally left AND right (since your hands keep going full circle)? Or is it dependent on whether its anti-clockwise or not? Or is there some whole protocol that I'm missing?

Very confused :)

(Very confused AND being assessed on it on friday... ouch)

Title: Re: Right hand grip rule
Post by: Whatlol on July 24, 2010, 11:53:43 pm

Quote from: 715761 on July 24, 2010, 11:45:45 pm

Hi everyone :D

I'm getting massively confused with the whole right hand grip rule thing when it comes to solenoids. If your fingers wrap around a wire in the coil, couldn't the direction of the magnetic field be said to be equally left AND right (since your hands keep going full circle)? Or is it dependent on whether its anti-clockwise or not? Or is there some whole protocol that I'm missing?

Very confused :)


(Very confused AND being assessed on it on friday... ouch)

(http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/7950/solenoid.png)

Im sorry for my bad drawing skills )=

Ok when you want to find the direction of the magnetic field in an solenoid what you need to do is pick one point of the coil i usually pick the top of the circle. Now what you simply do is then apply the right hand grip rule

So in this situation the current will be going towards you, therefore the magnetic field will run anticlockwise through the centre of the coil. Now in the middle the magnetic field will run from left to right.

Hope this helps you.

Title: Re: Right hand grip rule
Post by: 715761 on July 25, 2010, 12:07:04 am

hmmm... why anti-clockwise??

Title: Re: Right hand grip rule
Post by: Whatlol on July 25, 2010, 12:09:22 am

Quote from: 715761 on July 25, 2010, 12:07:04 am

hmmm... why anti-clockwise??

Ok so if the current is running towards you (at the top of the loop) i.e literally from the screen towards you, applying the right hand grip rule will give you a magnetic field flowing anticlockwise. Would you like me to draw how to position your hand for it?

Title: Re: Right hand grip rule
Post by: 715761 on July 25, 2010, 12:37:12 am

that would be nice..... thank you :)

Title: Re: Right hand grip rule
Post by: Whatlol on July 25, 2010, 12:43:39 am

Ok here you go.
(http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/49/righthandgrip.png)

Now remember the thumb is perpendicular to the plane of the page, so its pointing towards your chest.

Title: Re: Right hand grip rule
Post by: 715761 on July 25, 2010, 01:03:57 am

OH okay... it took me a while but i had my epiphany...  thank you :D

Title: Re: Right hand grip rule
Post by: Whatlol on July 25, 2010, 10:23:14 am

Quote from: 715761 on July 25, 2010, 01:03:57 am

OH okay... it took me a while but i had my epiphany...  thank you :D

no problems good luck!