On a tiny scale, what happens to an initially neutral object's mass when it gains a net positive charge through the exchange of electrons? (b) What happens to the mass of an initially neutral object when it gains a net negative charge through the exchange of electrons?

On a tiny scale, what happens to an initially neutral object's mass when it gains a net positive charge through the exchange of electrons? (the mass will decrease by a very small factor)

(b) What happens to the mass of an initially neutral object when it gains a net negative charge through the exchange of electrons? (The mass will increase by a very small factor)

Explanation:

(a) On a tiny scale, what happens to an initially neutral object's mass when it gains a net positive charge through the exchange of electrons? (the mass will decrease by a very small factor)

The mass of an atom is given by the sum of the masses of the protons, neutrons and electrons. Electrons has lower mass than protons and neutrons, so they have a minor contribution to the total mass of the atom.

When an object is electrically neutral it means that it has the same number of protons and electrons. For the case of an object positively charged, the rate of protons is greater than the number of electrons. That means that atom lose electrons so the mass will decrease in a very small factor.

(b) What happens to the mass of an initially neutral object when it gains a net negative charge through the exchange of electrons? (The mass will increase by a very small factor)

For the case when the object is negatively charged, it means that the atom gains electrons from another object, leading to the conclusion that the mass of the atom will increase in a very small factor.

Key values:

Electron mass: 9.1095*10⁻³¹ Kg

Proton mass: 1.67261*10⁻²⁷ Kg

Neutron mass: 1.67492*10⁻²⁷ Kg