Can hot objects become charged?

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of charging objects through heat and the process of thermionic emission. The participants also mention the use of vacuum tubes and the idea of using collision with high energy to emit electrons. One participant also expresses gratitude for the information shared.
  • #1
lonely_nucleus
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Because a hot object like a hot metal has a lot of heat flowing through them are they charged? What are some ways to charge objects.
 
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  • #2
lonely_nucleus said:
What are some ways to charge objects.
Shuffle your feet on carpeting on a dry day
 
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  • #3
I can't say whether the object would be charged however with a lot of heat then electrons could be ejected from the surface but I think if it were grounded then it still wouldn't have a net charge.

Vacuum tubes work on the same kind of principle of heating a cathode to get electron flow from cathode to anode:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_tube

basically the process of thermionic emission:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermionic_emission
 
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  • #4
jedishrfu said:
I can't say whether the object would be charged however with a lot of heat then electrons could be ejected from the surface but I think if it were grounded then it still wouldn't have a net charge.

Vacuum tubes work on the same kind of principle of heating a cathode to get electron flow from cathode to anode:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_tube

basically the process of thermionic emission:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermionic_emission
I was wondering this because I know that when cathode ray tubes are heated they eject electrons. I was postulating that if the internal KE of an object gets hot enough the atoms can collide with so much energy that the object would emit electrons, it looks like you were thinking the same thing as well. I am going to cover thermiomic emission as the last chapter in my AARL electronics book but thank you for telling me what it is. Friend thank you for the reply.
 
  • #5
Greg Bernhardt said:
Shuffle your feet on carpeting on a dry day
Another great reply from you. I am honored to have you respond to my thread :nb)
 
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1. Are all hot objects charged?

No, not all hot objects are charged. Hot objects can become charged under certain conditions, but the majority of hot objects do not have a net charge.

2. How do hot objects become charged?

Hot objects can become charged through a process called thermal ionization. This occurs when high temperatures cause atoms or molecules to lose or gain electrons, resulting in a net charge.

3. Can hot objects lose their charge over time?

Yes, hot objects can lose their charge over time. This is because the thermal energy that caused the charge to form will eventually dissipate, resulting in the object returning to its neutral state.

4. Is there a limit to how much charge a hot object can hold?

Yes, there is a limit to how much charge a hot object can hold. This limit is determined by the object's size, material, and temperature. At a certain point, the repulsive forces between the charged particles will outweigh the thermal energy, preventing further charge accumulation.

5. Can hot objects be used to generate electricity?

Yes, hot objects can be used to generate electricity through a process called thermoelectricity. This involves using the temperature difference between a hot object and its surroundings to create an electric current. However, this method is not very efficient and is typically only used in specialized applications.

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