Freeing Electrons from Wires: A How-To Guide

[karawan]

can i empty a wire from its free electron.

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

Yes but only with an atomic bomb.

 

[Curl]

no, not possible statistically.

 

[Dr Lots-o'watts]

You'll get a spark before you reach "0" free electrons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricity

 

[sophiecentaur]

Did you consider the energy involved or the force?
The force between two point charges is Q₁ Q₂/ (4 π ε₀ R²) (the Coulomb force)
For a few grams of metal, you're talking of 10²³ electrons separated by, a mm or so. Put the numbers into the formula
The force will blow the top of your head off.

Under normal circumstances you only separate a very few of the total number of electrons from the atoms in a piece of wire and you still get a detectable force. When you want to take ALL of them, you get an enormous value for the force. I'll leave you to do the calculation.

 

[Drakkith]

Just to clarify for myself, is this talking about ALL the electrons in the metal, or only the free ones that freely move around the metal?