Physics 254- Spring 2011 Name: ________________________

A Sticky Situation
January 10

Let’s do three quick experiments with “magic” tape. Do the experiment with your
partner. (This doesn’t mean that your partner does it and you sit and watch. Take turns
doing the various steps and discuss the questions with each other.) As you go through the
experiments, think about what they are telling you. Even though they are simple to
perform, they do tell us quite a bit about the world around us.

Since the results of these experiments can vary depending on how much time you take to
do them (Why?), you should read all of the steps of an experiment before beginning.

Experiment #1
1. Cut off a strip of sticky tape about eight inches long. Fold over
about half an inch of one end to make a non-sticky handle. Stick Upper piece
the tape onto your table, smoothing it down with your fingertips.
This base tape provides a standard surface on which we’ll place Base piece
other strips.

2. Stick another piece of tape (with a similar handle) on top of the

base tape. Smooth the upper tape down well with your finger. Pull rapidly
Write U (for upper) on the handle of this second piece.

3. With a quick motion, pull the U tape up and off the base tape,
leaving the base tape stuck to the table. (You may need to hold
down the base tape by its handle to keep it from coming off with the upper piece.)

4. Hang the U tape vertically from the edge of the table, and bring your hand near the
hanging tape. What happens?
5. Rub a plastic pen or mechanical pencil through your hair and bring it near the
hanging piece. Describe what you see. (If you see no movement, try a different
plastic object and/ different set of hair.)

6. Let strip hang for a minute or so. (Probably about as long as it took you to discuss
and write down your responses.) Now bring your hand near the strip as before. Is the
movement the same?

Experiment #2
7. Return your original U tape to the base. Create a second base piece as before and on
top of it place a second U tape.

8. Pull the first U tape up as before and hang it from the edge of the table. As you are
doing this, your partner can quickly pull up the second U tape and bring it near the
hanging U tape. (Hold the second U tape by the handle, allowing it to hand down.)
What happens? Is the behavior always the same? Or, does it depend on the
conditions of the experiment? (You may have to work quickly to see any effects; try
pulling up the two U tapes at the same time. Also, try to keep your hands and other
objects as far away as possible from the pieces.)

Experiment #3
At the same time, you and your partner should do the following steps (9- 11).

9. Stick a new strip of tape, with a handle at one end, down U

onto the base tape. Smooth it down and write L on the L
handle. Stick another strip (with a handle) on top of the L
piece, smooth it down and write U on the handle. Base piece
10. Slowly lift the L piece, bringing the U tape along with it. Hang the double layer of
tape vertically from the table. Move your hand toward the
pieces, if there is any movement, rub the slick side of the tape
with your finger, removing the majority of the interaction/
movement.

11. Now hold onto the bottom of the L piece and quickly pull the U
L
U tape up and off.

12. Hang one of the U pieces vertically from the desk, but not too
close to the L piece!

13. Move the second L piece near the hanging L and U pieces. What happens?

14. Repeat by moving the second U piece toward the hanging pieces. What happens?

Formulate a hypothesis about what is going on here- why do the pieces of tape do
what they do? (What can we learn from these experiments?) Also, what kinds of further
experiments could you do to test your hypothesis?