• New products
• Essentials sets
• Scissors
  • General purpose scissors
  • Childrens scissors
  • Manicure scissors and sets
  • Dressmaking scissors
  • Special purpose scissors
• Childrens products
  • Sets and offers
  • Left handed scissors
  • Left handed pens
  • Left Write guide mat
  • Left handed rulers
  • Pencil sharpeners
  • Fibretips, Rollerballs, pencils
  • Books and videos
  • Fun and games
  • Baby and toddler
• Kitchen implements
  • Peelers, openers, corkscrews
  • Chef knives
  • Tableware
  • Food preparation
• Garden and DIY
• Golf equipment
  • Simple Golf Swing
  • Left Handed Golf
• Writing equipment
  • Cartridge pens
  • Ink cartridges
  • Griffix writing from Pelikan
  • Stabilo sMove and non-smudge
  • Yoropens (design award)
  • Rulers, sharpeners, pencils, grips
  • Calligraphy sets and books
• Books and videos
  • General interest books
  • Instruction books
  • Childrens books
• Music and guitars
• Stationery & Misc
  • Stationery, office, personal
  • Pens and cartridges
  • Stabilo sMove and non-smudge
  • Yoropens (design award)
  • Rulers, sharpeners, pencils, grips
  • Calligraphy sets and books
• Pocket knives
• Clothing
• Computer equipment
• Clocks and watches
• Fun and games
• Why left-handed
• Shop index

Flemings Left Hand Rule

We are often asked if we are aware of Fleming's Left Hand Rule, also known as the motor rule, and the answer is yes! We have put a page together with details of the left-hand rule invented by Fleming for reference, but also for all you left-handers studying for your GCSE's and other exams where Flemings motor rule will come in handy!

Sir Fleming - Posing with his left hand?

Sir John Ambrose Fleming. 1849–1945, English electrical engineer. He was a leader in the development of electric lighting, the telephone, and wireless telegraphy in England and the inventor of a thermionic valve (the first electron tube). Fleming was a professor at the Univ. of London and at University College and was knighted in 1929.

Fleming's Left Hand Rule This rule describes the action of an object in an electric or magnetic field. Similiarly to the right hand rule, the left hand should be extended. The thumb should be in the positive y-axis, the index finger in the positive z-axis, and the middle finger in the positive x-axis. We define positive y as up from the ground, positive x as towards your right, and positive z as away from your body.

The thumb represents motion, the direction in which the object is currently travelling.

The first finger represents the field of the system we are looking at.

The second finger represents the current which is induced into the system in which are looking at.

 

	When a wire carrying an electric current is moved in a magnetic field of a magnet the magnetic field induced by the wire reacts with the magnetic field of the magnet causing the wire to move outwards. Fleming's left hand rule helps you to predict the movement.
	First finger - direction of magnetic field (N-S) SeCond finger - direction of current (positive to negative) ThuMb - movements of the wire

When a coil of wire carrying a current is placed in a magnetic field the coil turns.

This is called the motor effect.

The Practical Applications of this Theory

By using the three components:

• electricity

• magnetism

• movement

and the coil of the electro-magnet, a wide range of practical applications are possible.

Electric motors have magnets, a coil, and use electricity to produce movement.

The magnet field of the coil pushes away from the magnetic field in the surrounding magnet, so turning the coil and the motor spindle.

 

Interesting science lesson brought to you by Anything Left-Handed.