Does Everything have a charge?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of electric charge and whether everything has a charge. Participants explore the definitions of charge, the nature of atoms, and the implications of being neutral or charged. The conversation includes theoretical perspectives and questions about the fundamental properties of matter.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the definition of charge and its relationship to light, seeking clarification on the difference between energy and charge.
  • Another participant asserts that neutrons have a neutral charge, prompting further inquiry about whether humans and other objects possess charge.
  • It is proposed that while atoms are generally neutral, ions are charged due to the loss or gain of electrons, leading to a discussion about the net charge of objects.
  • Some participants argue that every object has a net charge that can be positive, negative, or zero, depending on the balance of positive and negative charges.
  • Others contend that humans and many objects do not have a distinguishable charge, suggesting that the net charge is effectively zero for practical purposes.
  • A participant raises a question about the meaning of "having a charge," pointing out that many elementary particles are neutral and do not experience forces in an electromagnetic field.
  • Neutrinos are mentioned as an example of particles that have no charge.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether everything has a charge, with some asserting that all objects have a net charge while others argue that many are neutral. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives on the nature of charge.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the definitions of charge and neutrality, as well as the conditions under which objects may be considered charged or neutral. The conversation also reflects varying interpretations of the implications of being in an electromagnetic field.

Raza
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Hello,
I was trying to understand what light really is in definition and that means that I have to understand more basic stuff. I am trying to figure out what charge is and what is the difference between energy and charge? On Wikipedia, I read that "Electric charge is the physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field." So does that mean that everything has a charge?

Also, any website that explains the terms from a theoretical perspective? I took Physics 12 in high school so I know a little bit about the concepts. What is a electromagnetic field? etc...

Thanks
 
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Raza said:
So does that mean that everything has a charge?

Neutrons have neutral charge.
 
moriheru said:
Neutrons have neutral charge.
Do you and I have a charge?
 
You are made up of atoms(as you may have noticed,please tell me how if you did) and atoms are inthem selves nuetral only ions charged atoms that have lost or gained electrons are charged. So no you are not charged, as long as you don't rubb your selve on elctric poles all day.
 
moriheru said:
You are made up of atoms(as you may have noticed,please tell me how if you did) and atoms are inthem selves nuetral only ions charged atoms that have lost or gained electrons are charged. So no you are not charged, as long as you don't rubb your selve on elctric poles all day.
So we all have electrical charge? and so does every object in the world, but it can be either positive or negative, or sum up to 0? In the Wikipedia, it says that there's only two types of charges; positive or negative.
 
No we do not we have no charge we are neutral.
 
Every object has a net charge. That net charge can be positive, negative or zero. If the total quantity of positive charge (e.g. from protons or from positive ions) is equal to the total quantity of negative charge (e.g. from electrons or from negative ions) then the net charge will be zero.

For most purposes, the net charge of a human being is not distinguishable from zero.
 
Last edited:
What, exactly, do you mean by "have a charge". In your original post, you quoted "Electric charge is the physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field." There are many things that do NOT "experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field"! You are sitting in an "electromagnetic field" right now. Do you experience a force from it?

Many of the elementary particles that make up our bodies are neutral. And while there exist charged particles (electrons and neutrons), in molecules, there must be equal numbers so that the overall charge is neutral.
 
neutrinos have no charge
 
  • #10
Raza said:
Do you and I have a charge?
We are all made up of atoms.every atom is made up of protons, electrons and neutrons. But the net charge is zero.you are made up of charged particles. But the positive and negative charge cancels out.
 

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