which way is counterclockwise

Counterclockwise means turning in the opposite direction to the way the hands of a clock move when you look at the clock face straight on. In simple terms, from the top it goes to the left , then down, then right, and back to the top.

Quick Scoop: Which way is counterclockwise?

• Imagine a normal wall clock in front of you.
  • Clockwise: from 12 → 3 → 6 → 9 → back to 12.
  • Counterclockwise: from 12 → 9 → 6 → 3 → back to 12.

• Another way to picture it:
  • If you start at the top and your hand first moves toward the left side, you’re going counterclockwise.
  • If it first moves toward the right side, you’re going clockwise.

• In math and science, rotations and positive angles are usually measured counterclockwise, so “positive turn” often means a counterclockwise turn around a point.

Quick memory trick: “Counter” as in “against” the clock hands — counterclockwise goes against the normal clock direction.

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