Variations of +/-; Can there be more than just positive and negative particles?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the possibility of having more than just positive and negative particles, exploring concepts related to charge types in various fields of physics, including electromagnetic and strong interactions. Participants examine the existence of neutral particles and the implications of different charge types.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about evidence for particles beyond positive and negative charges, suggesting the existence of neutral particles with zero charge.
  • Quarks are mentioned as having "color charge," with three types identified: red, green, and blue.
  • There is a discussion on how neutral particles, such as neutrons and neutrinos, are formed, particularly through the combination of protons and electrons.
  • One participant asserts that only positive, negative, and neutral electromagnetic charges exist, questioning what other options could be considered.
  • Another participant raises the idea of different types of charges in varying electromagnetic fields, prompting a debate on the nature of electromagnetic fields.
  • It is noted that while electromagnetic interactions involve only positive and negative charges, other forces like gravity have their own properties that resemble charge but are fundamentally different.
  • Some participants argue that the electromagnetic field has fixed rules, and the concept of "different" electromagnetic fields is deemed nonsensical within the current understanding.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of charges and the existence of alternative electromagnetic fields. There is no consensus on the possibility of different types of charges beyond the established positive and negative classifications.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of electromagnetic fields and the definitions of charge types, which remain unresolved. Participants explore hypothetical scenarios without reaching definitive conclusions.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying particle physics, charge interactions, and the fundamental forces in physics.

tesla420
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Is there any evidence that suggests there can be more than just positive and negative particles
 
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None, unless you're thinking of neutral particles with zero charge - there are plenty of those.
 
Quarks have something called "color charge". There are three kinds, labelled red,green,blue.
 
Nugatory said:
None, unless you're thinking of neutral particles with zero charge - there are plenty of those.

How are neutral particles with zero charge created?
 
What would be the result of a protron and a electron combining inside the particle
 
tesla420 said:
What would be the result of a proton and a electron combining inside the particle

Either a hydrogen atom (the most common case of combining a proton and an electron) or by electron capture, a neutron. Both are neutral.
 
There are only positive (e.g. proton, up quark), negative (e.g. electron, down quark) and neutral (e.g. neutron, neutrino) electromagnetic charges.

What other options could there be? You'd have to start talking about vectors.
 
But is there any kind of evidence that suggests that there might be diffrent types of charges if it were in a diffrent electro magnetic field
 
Well, particles have colour charges which interact in the strong field.

But in electromagnetism, the electromagnetic charge is what dictates how the particle moves in the electromagnetic field.
 
  • #10
For the electro-magnetic interaction, there is only the one type of charge, which is positive or negative. Neutrons are composites of charged quarks, which add up to 0 net charge.

For other types of forces, there are values that act like charge but aren't the same thing. For gravity, there is gravitational mass, which functions the same way, except it is always positive. As others have mentioned, quarks also interact through the Strong Force, which has multiple types of 'color charge'.
 
  • #11
tesla420 said:
But is there any kind of evidence that suggests that there might be diffrent types of charges if it were in a diffrent electro magnetic field

There is only one EM field and it only has + and - charges. We can't talk about "different" EM fields since they don't exist.
 
  • #12
Do you mean we can't talk about it on this forum because it is against the rules
 
  • #13
tesla420 said:
Do you mean we can't talk about it on this forum because it is against the rules

Well, yes, but what I really mean is that the EM field has been observed to have these particular rules. Another field with different rules would not be an EM field. Even slightly modifying the current EM field would result in another field, not our own EM field. So when you ask about "different" EM fields it's like asking what would the weather be like on another Earth. Well, there's only one Earth so the question doesn't make much sense.

We could easily come up with different rules for another field. Perhaps our imaginary field has thirty-seven different types of charges, but since the field doesn't really exist we haven't really gotten anywhere, have we?
 

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