2006-10-20 09:12:42 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I actually do know, but I'm not sure I could explain it to a 9 year old. The process involved is called a dipole-induced dipole attraction.
A dipole is a molecule whose electrons are not distributed evenly - it has more electrons on one side than the other side. Water is a dipole, since the electrons spend more time around the oxygen atom than around the hydrogen atoms. If you take a dipole molecule and bring it up to a non-dipole molecule, it can induce a charge imbalance; say you bring the negative side of the dipole up to the non-dipole molecule, so the electrons of the near side move away (like charges repell) - this makes the non-dipole molecule temporarily become a dipole. That's what we call an induced dipole.
Once you have two dipoles near each other (even an induced dipole), if the negative side of one is near the positive side of the other, then they will be attracted to each other. Glass molecules are strongly dipolar, but the molecules in cling wrap aren't. But when you bring the cling wrap near the glass, the glass induces a dipole in the cling wrap, and they attract each other, and stick.
There's also an attraction called induced dipole-induced dipole, which explains why cling wrap sticks to itself.
2006-10-20 09:55:25 · answer #1 · answered by kris 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I cant give you a very scientific answer (which I am sure you will get here from someone far more clever!) but I think it is the elasticity of the film that makes it cling rather than anything related to stickiness.
2006-10-20 09:55:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have him move the back of his hand close to the film. He'll be able to feel the static. Then do the same with a balloon you rubbed on his head before you stick it to the ceiling.
Afraid you'll have to get into physics to explain how static electricity works. Maybe when he's ten.
2006-10-21 10:07:49 · answer #3 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The below dipole answer is correct, but for a 9 year old I would simplify it to static electricity. The difference is subtle and unless you are prepared to pull out the college physics textbook, I'ld go with static electricity.
2006-10-20 10:16:44 · answer #4 · answered by xorosho 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont know, but I do know it never clings where I want it to
2006-10-20 10:07:35 · answer #5 · answered by anne l 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought it was electrostatic, maybe I'm wrong.
2006-10-20 10:10:31 · answer #6 · answered by bo nidle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋