Physics Name____________________________

Date_______ Per____
Static Electricity of Tape​- A study of adhesion

Materials:
Two (2) pieces Scotch Tape a few inches long. We suggest the wider, opaque/milky looking scotch tape.
We found that the clear, thin scotch tape tends to curl up and become unwieldy.

Steps:
Part 1
1. Stick both pieces of Scotch tape to the countertop behind your desk. If you don't have long
fingernails, make sure that you fold one corner of each piece of tape before sticking it to the table
so that you can easily pull the pieces again.
2. Gently tap on the Scotch tape so that it is mostly stuck to the countertop. Do not rub the tape.
3. Peel the pieces of Scotch tape off of the countertop carefully so that they do not tear.
4. What happens when you bring the two non-sticky sides near each other? Do you notice something
unusual?
The pieces of tape repel.

Part 2
5. Try the experiment again with the same pieces of tape, but this time, put one piece of tape on the
countertop and stick the other right on top of the first, tapping it down. OR You may also simply
stick the pieces of tape together in the air without even putting them back on the desk.
6. Pull up the two pieces of tape one at a time if you put them on the desk or pull them apart if you
simply stuck them together in the air.
7. Hold the two non-sticky sides of the tape close together. What happens this time? Something
different?
The pieces of tape attract.

8. Which tape has a net positive charge and which tape is negative? Look up the “Triboelectric
series” to help you answer this question. Where are the electrons lost and where are they gained?
The top tape is negatively charged and the bottom tape is positively charged. The negative
charge takes the electrons and the positive charge loses the electrons.
Physics Name____________________________
Date_______ Per____
Static Electricity of Tape​- A study of adhesion
Draw a diagram explaining the charge dispersion between part 1 and part 2. ( click to edit, these
are just starting images.)
9.

10. Unrelated: Given the arrangements of charges in each of the drawings below, insert at least 8
field lines to explain the shape of the field they create. Draw one arrow differently that shows the
direction a positive charge would flow if placed at location x.
Physics Name____________________________
Date_______ Per____
Static Electricity of Tape​- A study of adhesion