a metallic object is given a positive charge by induction, does the mass change (increase, decrease, same)? what if given a negative charge instead?
I think protons has more mass so mass increases and the opposite is true for electrons. Am I right?
There will be a VERY small increase in mass of an object charged negatively, since electrons are added. Conversely, there will be a very small mass decrease for a positivly charged object, since electrons are removed. The changes may be too small to measure with available instruments, but they are there.
Well, congratulations! You're partially right, but let's dive deeper into the wacky world of charges and mass. When a metallic object is given a positive charge by induction, the overall mass remains the same. The positive charge comes from an excess of protons in the object, which are indeed more massive than electrons.
Now, when it comes to negative charges, if a metallic object is given a negative charge, again through induction, the mass doesn't change either. This negative charge comes from an excess of electrons, which are indeed much lighter than protons.
So, the bottom line is that the overall mass of the object stays the same regardless of the charge it acquires. It's like adding or removing toppings on a pizza without changing the total mass of the pizza itself. Pretty neat, huh?
When a metallic object is given a positive charge by induction, its mass does not change. Adding or removing electrons from an object does not alter its mass because electrons are significantly lighter than protons and neutrons, which make up the majority of an object's mass.
Similarly, when a metallic object is given a negative charge by induction, its mass also does not change. The negative charge is due to an excess of electrons being induced on the object. Since electrons are very light, the addition or removal of electrons does not significantly affect the mass of the object.
Therefore, whether an object is given a positive or negative charge, its mass remains the same.
When a metallic object is given a positive charge by induction, it does not cause any change in its mass. The process of induction involves temporarily redistributing the charges within the object, but it does not alter the actual mass.
To understand this, let's look at the basic principles of charge and its effects on mass:
1. Charge: An object can acquire a positive charge by gaining protons (positively charged particles) or losing electrons (negatively charged particles). Conversely, an object can acquire a negative charge by gaining electrons or losing protons.
2. Mass: The mass of an object is determined by the total number of particles within it, including protons and neutrons (particles with no charge) in the nucleus, as well as electrons orbiting the nucleus. Although electrons have much less mass than protons or neutrons, their contribution to the overall mass is negligible compared to the other particles.
Given these principles, when a metallic object is induced with a positive charge, it means that electrons in the material are repelled from the region where the positive charge is located. However, since the mass of electrons is quite small compared to the other particles, this redistribution of charges does not result in a measurable change in the overall mass of the object.
The same reasoning applies when a metallic object is given a negative charge by induction. Electrons are drawn to the region with the positive charge, but their negligible mass does not lead to any noticeable change in the object's total mass.
In summary, both positive and negative charges induced on a metallic object do not cause a change in its mass.