Do electrons have gravity?

As a theoretical physicist with a keen interest in the fundamental forces of nature, I am often asked about the influence of gravity on subatomic particles like electrons. The question of whether electrons have gravity is a fascinating one that touches on the intersection of quantum mechanics and general relativity, two pillars of modern physics.

To begin with, let's delve into the properties of electrons. Electrons are elementary particles that carry a negative electric charge. They are one of the fundamental constituents of matter and are found in atoms, which are the building blocks of all matter. The mass of an electron is approximately \(9.10938356 \times 10^{-31}\) kilograms, which is indeed a tiny fraction of the mass of a proton or neutron, the other constituents of an atomic nucleus.

Now, addressing the core of your question: Gravity is one of the four fundamental forces in the universe. It is described by Einstein's theory of general relativity as the curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of mass and energy. Every object with mass, no matter how small, exerts a gravitational force. This includes electrons, as they possess mass and therefore contribute to the curvature of spacetime, albeit to an extremely minute degree.

However, when we consider the relative strengths of the fundamental forces, gravity is the weakest. The strong nuclear force, which holds atomic nuclei together, is much stronger but acts over very short distances. The electromagnetic force, which is responsible for the interactions between charged particles like electrons and protons, is also much stronger than gravity and acts over longer ranges. The weak nuclear force is responsible for processes like beta decay and is intermediate in strength between the strong nuclear force and gravity.

In the context of everyday objects and interactions, gravity is the dominant force because it is the only force that acts over long distances without diminishing significantly. But when we zoom in to the atomic and subatomic scale, the electromagnetic force becomes the dominant player. This is because the strength of the electromagnetic force increases as the distance between charged particles decreases, unlike gravity, which always decreases with distance.

Given the small mass of an electron and the dominance of the electromagnetic force at the atomic scale, the gravitational effect of an electron is negligible compared to the other forces. In most physical scenarios, especially those involving atomic and subatomic particles, the gravitational force exerted by an electron can be ignored. It is only when we consider extremely large masses and vast distances, as in the case of celestial bodies, that gravity becomes the dominant force.

In summary, while electrons do have a gravitational effect due to their mass, this effect is so small that it is typically not considered in calculations involving atomic and subatomic particles. The electromagnetic force, being much stronger, overshadows the gravitational force in these contexts.

Yes, they are affected by gravity. At least they should, since they have mass. However as far as I am aware there is no experiment that directly showed how gravity affects electrons. ... However this mass is the inertial mass of the electron.