Conservation of charge and electron flow?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the principle of conservation of charge in relation to electron flow through a charged body. It is established that while the total charge in a system must be conserved, the charge of an individual body does not need to remain constant. When electrons leave a charged body, it does not necessitate that an equal number of electrons must enter to maintain the body's charge. This principle allows for the charging of bodies without requiring a balance of electron flow.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic electrical concepts, including charge and electron flow.
  • Familiarity with conductive mediums and their properties.
  • Knowledge of circuit theory and how circuits can influence charge distribution.
  • Concept of conservation laws in physics, particularly conservation of charge.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of charge conservation in electrostatics.
  • Explore the behavior of electrons in conductive materials.
  • Study circuit design and the effects of applied voltage on charge distribution.
  • Investigate the relationship between charge flow and electric fields in conductive mediums.
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Students of physics, electrical engineers, and anyone interested in the principles of charge conservation and electron dynamics in conductive materials.

HMS-776
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I am trying to understand the conservation of charge regarding electron flow through a charged body.

Is there any thing about the conservation of charge which explains that if a body is charged and electrons leave the body the same amount of electrons must enter it to conserve it's charge?

What if the body was given a charge by an applied circuit, and was then put in a conductive medium? Would the amount of electrons leaving the body equal the amount of electrons which enter it? If so, could you control the amount of electrons which leave the body by limiting the electrons which enter it, even though the body was placed in a conductive medium?
 
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HMS-776 said:
Is there any thing about the conservation of charge which explains that if a body is charged and electrons leave the body the same amount of electrons must enter it to conserve it's charge?
In general, no. Conservation of charge simply says that if the charge of the body is decreasing (or increasing) then charge must be leaving (or entering) the body. It doesn't mean that the charge of a single object must be conserved, it means that the total charge in the system must be conserved.

If the charge of an individual body was always conserved... there would be no way to charge it in the first place.

Does that answer your question?
 

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