What is the right-hand rule?
Q: What is the right-hand rule?
A: The right-hand rule is a convention in vector math that helps you remember direction when vectors get cross multiplied.
Q: How do you use the right-hand rule to figure out the direction of a cross product?
A: To figure out the direction of a cross product, close your right hand and stick out your pointer finger. Stick your thumb straight up as though you were making the sign for a gun. Point your "gun" straight ahead, then stick out your middle finger so that it points left and all your fingers are at right angles to each other. Point your thumb in the direction of the first vector and point your pointer in the direction of the second vector. Your middle finger will point in the direction of the cross product.
Q: What happens if you change order when vectors get cross multiplied?
A: When you change order when vectors get cross multiplied, then result goes in opposite directions. Therefore, it's important to make sure that you go in order of thumb x pointer = middle .
Q: What does this equation mean? {\displaystyle {\vec {thumb}}\times {\vec {pointer}}={\vec {middle}}} .
A: This equation means that if two vectors are crossed multiplied with one another (thumb x pointer), then it will result in a third vector (middle).
