Does gravity apply to ionised objects?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of gravity to ionized objects, specifically questioning whether an ionized person would behave differently under gravitational influence compared to a non-ionized state. The scope includes theoretical considerations and conceptual clarifications regarding gravity and electromagnetic forces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that gravity applies to all objects with mass, including ionized ones, and question the notion that ionized objects would fall through the floor.
  • Others argue that ionized objects would behave like any other object under gravity, hitting the floor and stopping rather than falling through it.
  • A participant mentions that most macroscopic items are ionized to some degree and observes that nothing unusual occurs in such cases.
  • There is a discussion about the feasibility of ionizing oneself, with one participant suggesting that true ionization involves a specific unbalanced charge, which is not easily achievable.
  • Another point raised is that while gravity acts on all bodies, an added charge would subject an object to electromagnetic forces in addition to gravitational forces.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that gravity applies to ionized objects, but there is disagreement regarding the implications of ionization on behavior under gravity, particularly the idea of falling through the floor.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the nature of ionization and its effects on gravitational behavior remain unresolved, and the discussion does not clarify the specific conditions under which these claims hold true.

tinypositrons
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Eg. If I ionised myself (ignoring other problems) would I fall through the floor and eventually stop moving at the center of the gravitational body I was on (assuming I didn't make an orbit).
 
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Gravity certainly does apply to ionized objects, but I have no idea why you think that ionized objects would fall through the floor. They would hit the floor and stop like any other object.
 
tinypositrons said:
Eg. If I ionised myself (ignoring other problems) would I fall through the floor and eventually stop moving at the center of the gravitational body I was on (assuming I didn't make an orbit).

Gravity applies to all the objects which possesses mass and force of gravity is given by the formula:

##F=\frac{Gm_1m_2}{r^2}##
 
Furthermore, just about all macroscopic items carry some non-zero charge - i.e. are ionized. Observationally, nothing odd happens.
 
tinypositrons said:
Eg. If I ionised myself (ignoring other problems) would I fall through the floor and eventually stop moving at the center of the gravitational body I was on (assuming I didn't make an orbit).

It is unlikely that you could actually "ionise" yourself. You could possibly add to or remove a very few of the 10^24, or so electrons but that would not make you into an Ion. An Ion is a specific thing - an atom with an unbalanced charge.
 
Most of us are rather uncharged, so we are not subject to the electromagnet [EM] force between ourselves and other charged objects. If you were to take on a charge, then you would be subject to the EM force. This would be in addition to the gravity which always acts between you and other bodies.
 

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