Can hot objects become charged?

AI Thread Summary
Hot objects, such as heated metals, can potentially become charged due to the ejection of electrons from their surfaces, a process known as thermionic emission. When heated sufficiently, the kinetic energy of atoms can lead to electron release, although grounding may prevent a net charge. This principle is similar to how vacuum tubes operate, where heated cathodes emit electrons to create flow. The discussion highlights the relationship between temperature and electron behavior, particularly in devices like cathode ray tubes. Overall, while heat can influence charge, the net effect depends on the object's grounding and conditions.
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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