Electromagnetic Machines

The right hand rule is used for generators. It is used for when there is a magnetic and motion inducing a current. The motion can either be a moving magnetic field or a moving conductor (MacIssac & Tafur, 2014). For the right hand rule, the thumb is the motion of the magnetic field or the conductor/charged particles, the index finger is the direction of the field and the palm/middle finger is conventional current (opposite to the electron flow). 

 

 

 

 

There is also the circular right hand rule. The circular right hand rule is when there is a current in a straight wire that crates a magnetic field. The same circular rule can be applied to a solenoid creating a magnetic field (MacIssac & Tafur, 2014). The circular curl of the fingers indicates the direction of the magnetic field.

 

 

 

 

The left hand rule is used for electric motors. It is used when a current produces motion. The current induces a magnetic field, which interacts with an existing magnetic field (Raine, 2013).  For the left hand rule, the thumb is the force or motion of the motor, the index finger is the the magnetic field and the palm/middle finger is the current. The right hand rule may also be substituted for the left hand rule where; the thumb is the current, the index finger is the magnetic field and the palm/middle finger is the force.