Masking Tape Glows When You Peel It!

[Robin]

Im sure you looked at the thread title and thought oh dear someone has too much time!

I just found this out a few nights ago by accident! Its really odd and I thought I was seeing things! If you pull a strip of it off the roll really quickly either pulling a length out or ripping a piece off really quickly for a split second is like your striking a match and you can see a quick flash of green light! Its got to be in like a pitch black room because it is hardly noticeable, I dont know if its like this with other tape or just masking tape.....

Was just wondering what causes it.... I know it has something to do with the static and friction giving it a charge but why does it glow? Is the tape like slightly radioactive (like the illuimated dials on a clock). Maybe its the adhesive or the way its made, anyone know?? 💡

I know its not really an amazing thing but it was just a little something interesting... I really didnt know this before, well who would usually be using masking tape in a pitch black room..... just for your information I wasnt tying anyone up or anything!

Robin

 

[3-Wheel Drive]

Crazy.

(goes off to find some masking tape to try it with)

Edit: Hmm.. I can't seem to get it to do that.

 

[Tornado]

I'm guessing it's the adhesives reaction to the riction/spark caused by pulling it apart quickly. Similar to how different chemicals burn in different colors.

 

[Nøz]

wow! I might try that

 

[Robin]

Crazy.

(goes off to find some masking tape to try it with)

Edit: Hmm.. I can't seem to get it to do that.

hahaha, maybe its just my crazy ghetto masking tape...... (This is the white/ yellowish kinda stuff thats not shiny like the brown packing tape btw...)

Now everyones gonna try it and its not gonna work and im gonna look like a FOOL! ..... maybe your eyes have to adjust to the dark first..... I just tried it again and i kind of see it glow.....

 

[3-Wheel Drive]

I know what masking tape looks like

 

[Solid Lifters]

Reminds me of thick sheets in the winter time. Run your fingernails very quickly across the inner sheets with the lights out and watch the sparks fly and snap.

 

[Mx²]

I'm guessing it's the adhesives reaction to the riction/spark caused by pulling it apart quickly. Similar to how different chemicals burn in different colors.

What's with the fugly font?

Anyways, I'll try this tonight.

 

[guska]

What's with the fugly font?

Personal Taste

hahaha, maybe its just my crazy ghetto masking tape...... (This is the white/ yellowish kinda stuff thats not shiny like the brown packing tape btw...)

Now everyones gonna try it and its not gonna work and im gonna look like a FOOL! ..... maybe your eyes have to adjust to the dark first..... I just tried it again and i kind of see it glow.....

I got it to happen, but only very very dull. It is bright enough to be able to take a video of? I would like to see this 'glowing masking tape'. I had never thought of trying it before it all. o.O

 

[Gen.]

Wooly jumper + winter = spark fest

 

[sutton.a]

hahah its not radiation. I don't think tape radiates gamme, alpha or beta rays from it... otherwise fear the tape bombing.

 

[guska]

Post removed due to extreme stupidity at a molecular level

 

[Duke]

Go into a dark room with a friend (or a mirror) and a roll of Wintergreen Lifesavers. Swallow any saliva you have in your mouth. Pop in a Lifesaver and immediately crunch it in your back teeth, but leave your mouth open so your friend (or the mirror) can see.

Result? Green sparks!

Go outside with an unopened 2-litre bottle of diet cola (I used Diet Coke) and a roll of mint Mentos. Set the unshaken bottle on the grass and open it. Reach over and drop 1-2 Mentos into the bottle and step back quickly.

Result? A diet soda fountain anywhere from 4 feet to 6 feet high!

 

[amp88]

Go outside with an unopened 2-litre bottle of diet cola (I used Diet Coke) and a roll of mint Mentos. Set the unshaken bottle on the grass and open it. Reach over and drop 1-2 Mentos into the bottle and step back quickly.

Result? A diet soda fountain anywhere from 4 feet to 6 feet high!

Welcome to the past

Mythbusters got over 30 feet with a couple of refinements.

 

[Law93]

i used to work with tape a lot and i never noticed this......maybe theres a defect in your tape?

 

[Duke]

Welcome to the past

Mythbusters got over 30 feet with a couple of refinements.

Well, yeah (I didn't see that episode BTW) you can do better than 6 feet with practice. My nephew figured out how to shotgun most of a tube of Mentos straight in and got well over 10 feet. I just thought I'd give the basics.

 

[DQuaN]

....and a roll of Wintergreen Lifesavers.

What are Wintergreen Lifesavers?

 

[Touring Mars]

I think Lifesavers are like Polos....

 

[Duke]

What are Wintergreen Lifesavers?

Like Polos. I don't know if actual Polos work or not, because I've never had them. Wintergreen tastes like crap, but it'sthe only flavor that sparks.

 

[IMTDS]

Like Polos. I don't know if actual Polos work or not, because I've never had them. Wintergreen tastes like crap, but it'sthe only flavor that sparks.

Yes Polos do work. The spearmint ones work best.
About the only thing I remember from chemistry lessons is snapping polos in half in a dark room. Result: Very small sparks, but sparks none the less!

 

[Touring Mars]

My word, someone actually found something cool about Spearmint polos

 

[Nøz]

🤬 Spearmint Polos Are The BEST SWEETS EVER MADE & DON'T YOU FORGET IT TOURINGMARS 🤬

 

[Robin]

I got it to happen, but only very very dull. It is bright enough to be able to take a video of? I would like to see this 'glowing masking tape'. I had never thought of trying it before it all. o.O

Im glad someone got it to work!....... it is really dull and ive found that you can only see it really clearly if your eyes have adjusted to the dark room..... I think you would be able to catch it on video if you managed to pull a huge length off the roll really fast to create a brighter glow!

i used to work with tape a lot and i never noticed this......maybe theres a defect in your tape?

Hahaha, I really dont know because this is just standard cheap masking tape... knowing my luck its got some illegal chemicals in it or something!

I still dont get really why it happens, i dont think it can be charge alone because the material must react in some way to cause the glow.

I heard about all these others things like lifesavers glowing and sparking..... makes you worry what they put in those things!

Robin

 

[PLmatt91]

I don't see a difference or see that at all.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I goota try someof these things. I've done the 'soda' fountain thing though, kinda. We used to buy 15p 12ltr bottles of lemonade from Kwiksave and spray them like Champagne on a hot day

I heard about all these others things like lifesavers glowing and sparking..... makes you worry what they put in those things!

Robin

Well there's sodium in your food (part of salt) and that will fizz and spark if placed in water. So will potassium which is also found in smal quantities in teh human body. Hell even phosphorus can be found in the body and that's used in tracer bullets.

 

[3-Wheel Drive]

Well there's sodium in your food (part of salt) and that will fizz and spark if placed in water. So will potassium which is also found in smal quantities in teh human body. Hell even phosphorus can be found in the body and that's used in tracer bullets.

True, but those elements are parts of compounds that won't break down unless acted upon by a chemical reaction (i.e. digestion).

Otherwise, bananas (which contain potassium) would spontaniously catch fire.
And nobody likes combustable bananas.