Limit of charing a body by positive charge

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the limits of charging a body positively, particularly in different environments such as air and vacuum. Participants explore the implications of removing electrons from a body and the theoretical limits of positive charge accumulation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that charging a body positively is limited by the number of electrons it contains, implying that a body can only be charged until all its electrons are removed.
  • Another participant proposes that there are alternative methods to charge a body, such as adding positively charged particles, but this does not address the core concern of electron removal.
  • A later reply questions the structural integrity of a body once all electrons are removed, asking what holds positive ions together in a solid state.
  • There is a suggestion that even if all electrons are detached, the system may still not reach a state of "zero charge," raising questions about the nature of charge and electron generation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the limits of charging a body positively, with some focusing on the removal of electrons and others questioning the physical implications of such a scenario. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the theoretical limits and implications of charging.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not clarify the assumptions regarding the nature of charge, the behavior of materials under extreme charging conditions, or the definitions of charge states.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying electrostatics, materials science, or anyone curious about the fundamental principles of charge and electron behavior in different environments.

Ahsan Khan
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Hello all,


I always read in texts that you can charge a body in air till the the electric field due to body does not exceeds the dielectric strength of air, which has a certain value. The question that is popping into my head is that, what if we charge the body in vacuum? I expect that even in vacuum one can not charge(positively) a body indefinitely . A body can be charged positively by detaching electrons from it, but as such a given mass of body has a definite number of electrons, this let me feel that there is a limit of charging a body by positive charge and this limit is reached when the body lose all of its electrons. Please clarify this as it is just my thinking there may be something beyond my understanding.
Thanks a bunch
 
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ovais said:
A body can be charged positively by detaching electrons from it, but as such a given mass of body has a definite number of electrons, this let me feel that there is a limit of charging a body by positive charge and this limit is reached when the body lose all of its electrons. Please clarify this as it is just my thinking there may be something beyond my understanding.
Thanks a bunch

There are other ways to charge a body. You can always add a positively charged particle to it.
 
sudu.ghonge said:
There are other ways to charge a body. You can always add a positively charged particle to it.


Thanks s.g. but this not my concern. I know by adding positive charged particles there can accumulation of desired number of positive charge, what I want to know is the situation when we have detached all electrons (free or bound if possibility exist) from a body than will our system( which definitely consists of lot of positive charge) re-create somehow more electrons or in other words the possibility of "zero charge" of any type(+ve or -ve) never exist and this always let us draw more and more electrons from the body irrespective of the number of electrons it carries during normal neutral state? Is that could be the case?
 
Way before you remove all the electrons, the body will not be a body anymore.
What keeps the positive ions together in a solid body?
 
Ok Guys thanks
 

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