Question

Create a pair of oppositely charged “T” and “B” strips of tape and tape them to
the edge of a table so that the ends don’t touch anything. Hold the end of a plastic pen near the end of each strip without allowing the key to touch the tape. What do you observe? How would you begin to account for these observations?

So I observed that the plastic was attracted to both the T and B strips, however, I am unclear why as I'm not sure why the plastic would have a charge or why it would attract both strips is the T and B are oppositely charged.

Answer 1

A neutral body can attract or attracted by a charged body reason is that neutral body having equal number of  electrons and positron. Positron is anti electron, positron has charge +1.6×10^-19C. when neutral body come close to charged body then positron and electrons shifted away inside the body as shown in figure . This process is called electric induction. That's reason in either case plastic is attracted by T &B strips. see figure and try too understand. thank you.