Retorts

Strange Attractions

I have to dispute John Shallcross' insistence that something must be "pushing" in order to create the attractive force in his paper & tube example [Retorts, April 1992]. The reason there is any attraction at all lies in the re-distribution of electrons during the sleeve rubbing process -- the resultant disparity in charges creates an electromagnetic potential (i.e. field) between the tube and paper. This potential, like gravity, provides the motive force for the mutual attraction between paper and tube.

Colin Quest, Tuakau