In article ,
(Starblade Darksquall) wrote:
"David Moran" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I am a physics student with a physical disability that limits my
motor
skills. I am wondering if there are any alternatives to the right hand
rule.
I understand the the principle, but my motor skills make it difficult to
carry out. Any help would be appreciated..

Thanks.

David Moran

They call it that because of you look at a righthanded screw from the
top, and you screw it clockwise then it proceeds in a certain
direction. I guess if you make the x axis up and the y axis to the
right, then z would be the in axis. Or maybe the x axis is to the
right and the y axis is up and you just turn it clockwise. I don't
know why they make counterclockwise the direction from the x axis to
the y axis. They just do.

Using a screw motion doesn't help me at all. Whenever I used the
right hand rule, I had to turn my hand so that my fingers pointed
to the right (all x positives start in the middle and go to my right).

I have maps with north always pointing up burnt into my hardware.
Doing any calc problems with dx/dy (rotations about the y-axis)
completely threw me. I'd do the problem by flipping the picture
that made the y-axis the x-axis and then flip it back for the
final answer.

I recall having exactly the same adjustment problems in high
school algebra. Every unknown was an x. When a problem had
an a instead of the x, I had no idea what to do, how to cope,
and whatthehell an a meant.

/BAH

Subtract a hundred and four for e-mail.

"David Moran" wrote in message
...

"Edward Green" wrote in message
om...
"David Moran" wrote in message
...

I'm not a Crip. I can walk, talk, etc. just like everyone else can
with
some
difficulty. I just need a few accomodations for my classes and
exams (I
am a
meteorology major).

In a recent thread a regular poster expresses his surprise that his
ten year old daughter has trouble telling right from left; i.e., he
has trouble imagining this. I have similar trouble imagining that,
if
you can at least hold your right hand in front of your eyes, that
you
cannot imagine what would happen if you closed your fingers, the the
relation of this movement to your outstretched thumb.

I'm not saying I don't believe that difficulty with the fine motor
actions might make it difficult to relate this now imaginary motion
with imaginary objects -- I'm just saying I have difficulty
understanding it.

My "right arm rule" was a serious suggestion -- it would work the
same
as a hand, if you don't mind flailing your arm around.
Hey, whatever works!!

Try making a tool. 3 matchsticks glued together or a piece of bent wire
should work.

Phil Holman