If you peel two strips of transparent tape off the same roll and immediately let them hang near each other, they will repel each

Question

2 months ago

8

If you peel two strips of transparent tape off the same roll and immediately let them hang near each other, they will repel each

other. If you then stick the sticky side of one to the shiny side of the other and rip them apart, they will attract each other. Give a plausible explanation, involving transfer of electrons between the strips of tape, for this sequence of events.

Physics

1 answer:

serg [3.5K] · Answer 1 · 2026-04-03T10:22:45+03:00

1. Initially removing a strip leaves some electrons behind, resulting in the strip becoming positively charged. 2. The roll itself does not acquire a negative charge since it is grounded by the hand holding it, causing excess negatives to repel through the hand. 3. Tearing off another strip again leaves electrons behind, this new strip is also positively charged and will repel the first strip. 4. When two strips are then pulled apart, one will transfer electrons to the other, creating one positively charged strip and one negatively charged strip, which will attract each other.