In the late 19th century, engineer John Ambrose Fleming invented two famous hand rules to help students easily memorize the relationship between magnetism, physical motion, and electricity. While the 'Left-Hand Rule' is used for Electric Motors, the Right-Hand Rule is specifically used for Electric Generators.
Michael Faraday discovered the physical phenomenon of electromagnetic induction in 1831, but Fleming invented this hand rule 50 years later as a teaching aid.
Never confuse the hands! Left Hand is for Motors (using electricity to create motion). Right Hand is for Generators (using motion to create electricity).
Fleming's Right-Hand Rule is used to determine the direction of the Induced Electric Current when a physical wire is moved forcefully through a magnetic field. (This is the exact principle of how dams and wind turbines generate electricity).
Stretch the Thumb, Forefinger (Index finger), and Middle finger of your RIGHT HAND so that all three are mutually perpendicular (at exactly 90-degree angles) to each other, like the corners of a box.
Assign the physics properties as follows:
To easily memorize which finger is which in exam halls, use the classic 'FBI' or 'Father, Mother, Child' trick:
If you flip the direction of the Motion (Thumb) 180 degrees, the Right-Hand Rule dictates that the direction of the Induced Current (Middle Finger) will also instantly reverse.
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