When I was breaking down some boxes recently, I snapped the tape and I could of sworn I saw a tiny blue spark. I did it again on another corner, then turned the light off and did it again. I saw sparks all three times. How can this be? I hope I didn't just stand up too quick?
2007-01-21 05:42:09 · 6 answers · asked by Boba Dub 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Sounds like a classic case of triboluminescence. You should see a glow at the unwinding edge of the tape if it is snapped sharply enough.
Also occurs when crunching certain types of mint sweets between your teeth (use a mirror in the dark!)
In crystalline materials I think it is caused when the pressure causes a rapid realignment of flaws in the lattice and that this energy causes electron separation. The light you get is due to the recombination of these charges.
Many believe that the flashes that accompany some catastrophic earthquakes is triboluminescence on a large scale within crysalline rocks.
2007-01-21 11:32:50 · answer #1 · answered by troothskr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello!
Trust me, your eyesight is fine! What your actually seeing is the friction from the electrons released from the tape. And since you are sitting right next to the box with the tape on it, the electrons released from the tape attach to your body in the form of electricity, and when you stand up, your shoes or socks rub against the floor or carpet, which sends more static up through the rest of your body, all the way to where the electrons released from the tape are on your body. When the two items meet, it creates the electric sparks that you see on the tape, but since you opened or took off the tape from the box, it released those electrons from the tape onto your body, and when you stood up, the static electricity from the ground traveled up through your body, connecting with the electrons from the tape, producing a big charge of static electricity on your body, forming blue sparks to snap on you! Hope you understand. If you don't email me and I will explain it more in depth.
2007-01-21 05:58:14 · answer #2 · answered by brad252448 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
static electricity. Have observed this phenomenon many times.
2007-01-21 05:44:15 · answer #3 · answered by Not Ecky Boy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Excellent!!! Exploding sellotape!!!! I'm off to experiment, I may be a while!!!
2007-01-21 05:45:37 · answer #4 · answered by WibbleWibble 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
static electricity
2007-01-21 05:44:22 · answer #5 · answered by q6656303 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
possible its most likely static discharge..
2007-01-21 05:44:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋