Creating static charge at a distance.

[res3210]

Is there any way to create an isolated point charge without any contact with the matter which one wishes to charge? I recognize that this would mean stripping off electrons from the substance, so I suppose my question is: is there any way to strip off electrons without having to specifically contact the object which one wishes to charge?

 

[VantagePoint72]

Define 'contact'. You can do it with a pulse of sufficiently energetic EM radiation, a strong electric field, etc. So, it can be done without matter touching matter. However, there has to be some sort of direct causal influence: in the examples I mentioned, field interacting with the matter.

 

[Bobbywhy]

res3210, Welcome to Physics Forums!

Yes, an object can be charged without direct contact by the method called "Induction". You can Google that or just have a look here:

“Charging by induction
Induction charging is a method used to charge an object without actually touching the object to any other charged object.”
See especially the section “Charging a Two-Sphere System Using a Negatively Charged Object” at: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/estatics/U8l2b.cfm

 

[res3210]

Thanks for the information, guys.