Definition:Orientation of Coordinate Axes/Cartesian 3-Space/Right-Handed

Definition
A Cartesian $3$-Space is defined as being right-handed if it has the following property:

Let a right hand be placed such that:
 * the thumb and index finger are at right-angles to each other
 * the $3$rd finger is at right-angles to the thumb and index finger, upwards from the palm
 * the thumb points along the $x$-axis in the positive direction
 * the index finger points along the $x$-axis in the positive direction.

Then the $3$rd finger is pointed along the $z$-axis in the positive direction.


 * Right-hand-3-space.png

Also known as
A right-handed orientation of a Cartesian $3$-Space is also referred to as the positive orientation.

Also see

 * Definition:Left-Handed Cartesian 3-Space