How to use fleming's left hand rule.

When a conductors carrying current is placed in a magnetic field, the field exerts a force on the conductor and vice versa. Fleming's left hand rule is a tool that you can use to help work out the relative directions of current, motion (force) and magnetic field. [Use diagram to show hand use. Thumb - motion, first finger - field, second finger - current].

Then demonstrate how to use the hand to help answer typical questions as I have found that students often struggle to actually make the correct shape with their own hands. Get them to use this technique to answer question: if current is flowing into the page and the field lines are going away from you which direction is the wire going to move? Answer: to the right.

EP
Answered by Emily P. Physics tutor

7255 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Describe the energy changes as electricity is produced in a fossil fuel station.


What is the difference between a transverse and longitudinal wave?


A sequence is defined by the recurrence relation u(n+1) = 1/3 u(n) + 10 with u(3) = 6 . Find the value of u(4) and the limit of the sequence.


What is the mass of an object travelling at 15 m/s with a kinetic energy of 100 J?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning