Blog 6.1 Note: Electromagnets & Right hand rules

*NOTE: these apply to CONVENTIONAL CURRENTS only.

Oersted's Principle - a circular magnetic field is produced when charge flows through the conductor

Right hand rule #1 (conductors):

• The thumb for RHR1 points in the direction of the current flow, from positive (+)
  
  
• The CAT'S CLAW (meow~!) = the direction of magnetic field around the conductor
  
  

Right hand rule #2 (coiled conductors):

• The thumb for RHR2 points to North
  
  
• The CAT'S CLAW (meow~!) = the direction of magnetic field around the conductor

The dot and the X (RHR1)

To look at the conductor in another way, we represent the dot as in the page, and the x as out the page.

electromagnet - the strength of the magnetic field (represented by B)