• Question: Why is clingfilm clingy?

    Asked by kiwibird to Mike, Pip, Tianfu, Tim, Tom on 29 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Tom Lister

      Tom Lister answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      Plastics are made of long chain molecules. The cling film clings when it is stretched and then left to relax over something. This stretches out the molecules and allows them to tangle up with things as they relax.

    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      It clings because of static electricity. If you hold cling film up to your arm, you’ll feel the hairs being attracted to it. It sticks together because of what Tom said.

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