Question

In a lab, two pieces of cellophane tape are placed on a lab table. They are quickly ripped off the lab table. Which would you predict would happen if the two pieces of tape were brought near each other?
A) The two pieces of tape would repel each other.
B) The two pieces of tape would attract each other.
C) There would be no attraction or repulsion between the pieces of tape.
D) There is no predictable result as the two pieces of tape are brought near each other.

Answer 1

Answer: A) The two pieces of tape would repel each other.

Two cellophane tapes would repel each other.

Explanation:

Two cellophane tapes stuck on the table acquire the same  charge when ripped apart. Thus they repel each other. Two objects can be charged by bringing them in contact. This is achieved by transfer of electrons from one object to the other.

The object with loosely bound electrons will lose electrons and this it is transferred to the other object. The object that lost electron becomes positively charged and the object that gained electron becomes negatively charged.

Like charges repel and unlike charges attract. In this experiment the tapes acquire one kind of charge and the table acquires another kind of charge.

Answer 2

Answer:

A.) The two pieces of tape would repel each other.

Explanation:

By friction, the tape will gain a charge. The charges will be like and the two pieces of tape would repel each other.