What is the physical meaning of Rules of Thumb?

[snoop835]

Rules of Thumb

Hi everyone,

I normally came across a words 'Rules of Thumb' to solve certain circuit problems. What is the physical meaning of 'Rules of Thumb'?

cheers

 

[noiseless]

Re: Rules of Thumb

No derive, just most people think it is right

 

[IanP]

Re: Rules of Thumb

Rules of Thumb simply provide a solid starting point that many have found useful in the past, and that will, in many cases, provide a suitable solution for your design problem today.

Regards,
IanP

 

[snoop835]

Re: Rules of Thumb

Cheers Noiseless and IanP! I got the meaning.

 

[pseudockb]

Re: Rules of Thumb

Just a thought, is there a set of commonly used rules of thumbs documented somewhere? I thought it would be useful for a new designer like me.

 

[suvendu]

Re: Rules of Thumb

THE RULE OF THUMB IS NOTHING BUT MANY PEOPLE ALREADY USED THAT RULE OR METHOD EARLIER.AND THEY GOT DESIRED RESULT.THERE IS NO PROOF OF THAT.U CAN ALSO USE THAT RULE OR METHOD ,U ALSO GET THE DESIRED RESULT.

 

[VVV]

Re: Rules of Thumb

The origin of the expression is really scary: it comes from an old English law, which, in an attempt to protect the women against savage beatings, "only" allowed the husband to beat his wife with a stick "no thicker than his thumb". Thus, the husband "had no excuse" for using too thick a stick. His thumb was always there and he could easily check the conformity of the beating instrument.
Really.

The expression just stuck. Today its meaning is benign, namely something like "easy to use", simple, a good starting point.