Scientists behind Ampere's Swimming RuleAmpere's Swimming Rule was named after the French scientist Andre-Marie Ampere. It was later refined by two other scientists, Flemming and Fleming, who provided further insights into the rule.
What is Ampere's Swimming Rule?Ampere's Swimming Rule is a rule that helps determine the direction of the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying wire. The rule states that if a person swims with the direction of the current, and the current is flowing towards their right, then the magnetic field produced will be oriented in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the person's body and towards their chest. Similarly, if the current is flowing towards the person's left, the magnetic field will be oriented in the direction perpendicular to the plane of their body and away from their chest.
Explanation of Ampere's Swimming RuleThe rule is based on the right-hand rule, which states that if the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger of the right hand are extended at right angles to each other, then the forefinger points in the direction of the magnetic field, the middle finger points in the direction of the current, and the thumb points in the direction of the force acting on the current-carrying wire. In the case of Ampere's Swimming Rule, the person swimming represents the current-carrying wire, and the direction of swimming represents the direction of the current.
The rule is particularly useful in determining the direction of the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying wire in a solenoid or a coil. By using the rule, it is possible to determine the direction of the magnetic field produced by each loop of the coil, and hence the overall direction of the magnetic field produced by the coil.
Overall, Ampere's Swimming Rule provides a simple and intuitive way of determining the direction of the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying wire, and is a useful tool for anyone studying electromagnetism or working with electrical circuits.