Question

Section 27.2 describes a procedure for finding the direction of the magnetic force using your right hand. If you use the same procedure, but with your left hand, will you get the correct direction for the force? Explain.

Short answer

No, we will not get the correct direction for the force by using left hand rule

Step-by-step solution

Left hand rule

The left-hand thumb rule in electricity is used find the direction of the current and magnetic field, where the points in the direction of the electric current, the first finger points to the direction of the magnetic field and the middle finger directs in the direction of the electric current.

Right hand thumb rule

The right-hand rule relates the magnetic forces the magnetic field and the direction of the velocity. It is the cross product of the velocity and the field. As the charge is being pushed by a moving magnetic field will be pushed in the opposite direction of the field lines. Hence using the left-hand rule gives us the answer that is completely opposite to the direction of the correct answer.