<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia . See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions . (November 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia . See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions . (November 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> In mathematics and physics, the right - hand rule is a common mnemonic for understanding orientation conventions for vectors in three dimensions . </P> <P> Most of the various left and right - hand rules arise from the fact that the three axes of 3 - dimensional space have two possible orientations . This can be seen by holding your hands outward and together, palms up, with the fingers curled . If the curl of your fingers represents a movement from the first or X axis to the second or Y axis then the third or Z axis can point either along your left thumb or right thumb . Left and right - hand rules arise when dealing with co-ordinate axes, rotation, spirals, electromagnetic fields, mirror images and enantiomers in mathematics and chemistry . </P>

When do you use the right hand rule