TOOLS PURPOSE APPLICATION LIMITS

Right- For easy understanding of the For a rotating object, if the right-hand fingers
handed orientation conventions for vectors. follow the curve of a point on the object, then
Coordinate the thumb points along the axis of rotation in the
System direction of the angular velocity vector.
A torque, the force that causes it, and the
position of the point of application of the force.
A magnetic field, the position of the point where
it is determined, and the electric current (or
change in electric flux) that causes it.
A magnetic field in a coil of wire and
the electric current in the wire.
The force of a magnetic field on a charged
particle, the magnetic field itself, and
the velocity of the object.
The vorticity at any point in the field of flow of
a fluid.
The induced current from motion in a magnetic
field (known as Fleming's right-hand rule).
The x, y and z unit vectors in a Cartesian
coordinate system can be chosen to follow the
right-hand rule. Right-handed coordinate
systems are often used in rigid
body and kinematics.
Unit Vector To specify a given direction Other than to specify a
given direction, unit
vectors have no other
physical significance.
They are used solely as
a convenience in
describing a direction
in space.
Position Used to describe continuous Derivatives of position:
Vector and differentiable space For a position vector r that is a function of
curves, in which case the time t, the time derivatives can be computed
independent parameter needs with respect to t. These derivatives have
not be time, but can be (e.g.) common utility in the study of kinematics,
arc length of the curve. control theory, engineering and other
In any equation of motion, the sciences.
position vector r(t) is usually 1. Velocity
the most sought-after quantity 2. Acceleration
because this function defines 3. Jerk (Jolt/Surge/Lurch)
the motion of a particle (i.e. a
point mass) - its location
relative to a given coordinate
system at some time t.
To define motion in terms of
position, each coordinate may
be parametrized by time; since
each successive value of time
corresponds to a sequence of
successive spatial locations
given by the coordinates, so
the continuum limit of many
successive locations is a path
the particle traces.
Free Vector