Coulomb's Explosion: Macroscopic Level?

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In summary, Coulomb's Explosion at the macroscopic level is a phenomenon that occurs when a substance is rapidly dispersed due to an intense electric field. It happens when the repulsive forces between charged particles exceed the cohesive forces holding the substance together. The intensity of Coulomb's Explosion depends on the strength of the electric field, the amount of charge, and the cohesive forces. It can be controlled or prevented by carefully managing these factors and is used in industries such as powder metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, and chemical processing.
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mikhailpavel
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Hi, I was wondering about a query on Coulomb's Explosion? Can Coulomb's Explosion occur in macroscopic level? I mean for a large bodies that are visible by naked eyes?
 
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https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=368805&highlight=Coulomb+explosion
I suspect that a negatively-charged conducting sphere will start electric-field emission when the electric field at the surface of the sphere overcomes the work function (equivalent to field emission in RF cavities). For a positively-charged sphere, field emission of electrons will not occur, but chunks of positively charged-material will be ejected.
Bob S
 
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Coulomb's Explosion is a phenomenon that occurs at the microscopic level, involving the repulsion of charged particles. It is a result of Coulomb's law, which describes the force between two charged particles. At the macroscopic level, where objects are visible to the naked eye, the forces involved are much larger and can be described by other laws, such as Newton's laws of motion.

In theory, it is possible for Coulomb's Explosion to occur in macroscopic objects, as long as they have a significant amount of charge and are in close proximity to each other. However, it is unlikely to observe this phenomenon in everyday objects, as the charges involved would need to be extremely high and the objects would need to be very close together. Additionally, the forces involved in a macroscopic Coulomb's Explosion would be much greater and potentially dangerous.

In summary, while Coulomb's Explosion can technically occur at the macroscopic level, it is highly unlikely and not something that can be easily observed in everyday objects. It is an important concept to understand in the study of electromagnetism, but it is not a common occurrence in our daily lives.
 

1. What is Coulomb's Explosion at the macroscopic level?

Coulomb's Explosion at the macroscopic level is a phenomenon in which a substance is rapidly dispersed due to an intense electric field. This can occur when a large amount of charge is suddenly applied to a substance, causing it to break apart into smaller particles.

2. How does Coulomb's Explosion occur?

Coulomb's Explosion occurs when the repulsive forces between charged particles exceed the cohesive forces holding the substance together. This can happen when a substance is highly charged or when a sudden electric field is applied to the substance.

3. What factors contribute to the intensity of Coulomb's Explosion?

The intensity of Coulomb's Explosion depends on the strength of the electric field applied, the amount of charge on the substance, and the cohesive forces holding the substance together. A higher electric field or larger charge will result in a more intense explosion.

4. Can Coulomb's Explosion be controlled or prevented?

Yes, Coulomb's Explosion can be controlled or prevented by carefully managing the amount of charge applied to a substance and the strength of the electric field. Additionally, using substances with stronger cohesive forces can also prevent or reduce the intensity of Coulomb's Explosion.

5. What are the applications of Coulomb's Explosion at the macroscopic level?

Coulomb's Explosion has various applications in industries such as powder metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, and chemical processing. It can also be used as a method for dispersing substances or creating fine particles for various purposes.

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