-JLYou do not know why they attract and repel>>>?
I have my own theory attraction and repulsion, but this is not my thread. I am requesting the theory agreed upon in this thread.
-JLCan you tell me why the directional rule of thumb exists for current direction and EM fields?
Again, I have my own theory that is perfectly satisfactory and has been discussed semi-completely in other threads. I know exactly why an observed current induces a magnetic field in a wire and how a coiled wire generates EM force. I will describe it here only by direct request because this is specifically an EU thread.
-JLThey are distributed charge gyroscopes.
What's charge again? I never did see it. I can picture the gyroscope but not the charge unfortunately.
-JLSpin is a gyroscope.
That's backwards, you mean "a gyroscope spins". The mechanical "right hand rule" is a fundamental property of rotational motion. It involves the basic laws of "a body in motion stays in motion" and the balancing of forces.
-JLEveryone knows the rule of thumb, no one tells you why.
I just did.
No you just described conservation of momentum and the balancing of forces in a rotating system. A simple toy top displays the same behavior. Conservation of momentum has been around for at least a thousand years. Precession is nothing mystical. I can describe it mechanically easily:
Imagine a hollowed-out disc (like a carriage wheel) suspended by a string attached to its center with a short axle through the center. Normally it will hang horizontally because of equal gravitational tension on its ends. If you lift it so that it is vertical then any force applied to the axle will cause the wheel to fall flat. However, if you spin the wheel before lifting it vertical you introduce what are essentially balancing forces. Any force applied to the axle will cause the outer edged of the disc to move to the side (the disc's axle will rotate). For instance, a point at the top of the disc may move left as a point on the very bottom tries to move right. However, as each point on the outer edge of the disc moves to the side it also rotates about the axle, which decreases the distance between the point and the horizontal axis. All the points on the disc are moving to the side as they rotate, causing the wheel to precess about its vertical axis. If the disc was not set spinning each point would move to the side without rotating and would simply fall. When spinning the point moves to the side but is also rotated , which places it in a position closer to the vertical position. It's somewhat like the point doesn't have "enough time" to fall over because it always gets pulled back in by the spinning before it can do it.
I think I learned this in an early physics class. I don't see what the big deal is. The "right hand rule" is a mathematical accounting mechanism that insures all the motion is conserved quantitatively. We don't need the RHR to explain the motion of a top physically.
-JLWill same charges attract or same poles attract?
If they will, why would they do that?
Why would two balls with a "+" symbol on them repel? I haven't the faintest clue what a "+" symbol has to do with repulsion. I have my own theories about why objects are observed to attract or repel. I suppose I can at least give a link here to Bill Gaede's theory of magnetism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evfUTmx0uh8
So, Wizard, so far you have described how a toy top conserves momentum and balances opposing forces. Any other deep insights behind your curtain?