An object is given a net + charge via friction. Would a scale...?

Question

Would a scale...show that the mass of the object has increased, decreased or stayed the same?

Answer 1

While you do lose electrons to get a net positive charge you have to remember that an electron weighs only 9x10^-31 kg. You would have to lose almost 10^25 electrons to even get a 1 mg difference in mass, this would represent a total charge of almost 1MC, which is an enourmous amount of charge. You would not be able to remove enough electrons to notice a difference in mass with the ordinary lab scale.

Answer 2

gaining a positive charge is synonymous with losing electrons. as such, the mass would decrease. However, you'd have to have one hell of a scale because the mass of an electron is absolutely tiny... in fact, so tiny that it's generally not counted (in chemistry) toward the molecular weight at all.