Can hot objects become charged?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around whether hot objects can become charged, particularly focusing on the mechanisms of charging and the effects of heat on electron behavior. Participants explore theoretical and practical aspects of charging objects, including thermionic emission and everyday charging methods.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if hot objects, like hot metals, can be charged and seeks methods for charging objects.
  • Another participant suggests that shuffling feet on carpeting on a dry day is a method to charge objects.
  • Some participants propose that while heat may cause electrons to be ejected from a hot object, grounding the object might prevent it from having a net charge.
  • There is a mention of thermionic emission as a principle where heating a cathode in vacuum tubes leads to electron flow, drawing parallels to the behavior of hot objects.
  • A participant reflects on the relationship between temperature, kinetic energy, and electron emission, indicating a connection to cathode ray tubes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding whether hot objects can achieve a net charge, and multiple viewpoints on the mechanisms of charging and electron behavior are presented. The discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on specific conditions, such as grounding and the temperature of the object, which are not fully explored or agreed upon. The discussion includes references to thermionic emission but does not clarify all underlying assumptions or mechanisms.

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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lonely_nucleus said:
What are some ways to charge objects.
Shuffle your feet on carpeting on a dry day
 
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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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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.
 
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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