How physics got its right hand: The origins of chiral conventions in electromagnetism

Abstract

Why do physicists almost universally take the direction of positive rotation to be counterclockwise, and three-dimensional coordinates to be right-handed? This paper traces the historical development of these chiral conventions, with an emphasis on the physical quantity whose direction became the focal point of this discussion in the mid-1800s, the magnetic field. Though these standards are often reduced to mere mathematical, inconsequential choices, an analysis of the impact of Newton, Maxwell, the London Mathematical Society, and others toward the subject can enhance classroom discussion, not only as a contextual sidebar, but also by emphasizing the influence conventions in physics can have on pedagogy, communication, and scientific advancement.

18 pages, 4 figures, 1 appendix

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