I'm supposed to be determining: In what direction is the magnetic force on an electron if the electron is travelling downward, parallel to a wire whose current is travelling upwards.
I'm trying to use the 'right-hand rule' to figure this out, but I'm confused; to find the direction of magnetic field of a wire, your thumb points in the direction of the current, and then your fingers curl around in the direction of the field. But if the field is circular, how am I supposed to know how it's affecting the electron?
And then there's that other right-hand rule, (for the "motor principle," though I don't know what that is) where your thumb points in the direction of the current, your fingers point in the direction of the magnetic field, and your palm then indicates the direction of the force.
If anyone can make sense of these rules for me, I'll be very happy
*This textbook uses the idea of the current flowing from positive to negative
I'm trying to use the 'right-hand rule' to figure this out, but I'm confused; to find the direction of magnetic field of a wire, your thumb points in the direction of the current, and then your fingers curl around in the direction of the field. But if the field is circular, how am I supposed to know how it's affecting the electron?
And then there's that other right-hand rule, (for the "motor principle," though I don't know what that is) where your thumb points in the direction of the current, your fingers point in the direction of the magnetic field, and your palm then indicates the direction of the force.
If anyone can make sense of these rules for me, I'll be very happy
*This textbook uses the idea of the current flowing from positive to negative