Why Do Pepper Particles Stick Only Behind the Print on a Glass Shaker?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Camille
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of pepper particles adhering to the inside of a glass shaker, specifically noting that they stick primarily in areas without print on the opposite side. Participants explore potential explanations involving electric charge, light, and humidity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that fine particles may adhere due to electric charge and/or moisture, suggesting that charge could be a significant factor.
  • Another participant proposes that sunlight might charge the glass, with the print blocking sunlight and thus affecting particle adhesion.
  • A further inquiry is made about whether wiping off the glass affects the sticking of pepper, indicating a potential experiment to assess static buildup over time.
  • Another participant considers the possibility that sunlight might heat the glass, which could reduce condensation and affect particle adhesion.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about confirming the dominant mechanism behind the phenomenon, mentioning charging by sunlight or rubbing as common considerations for glass.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various hypotheses regarding the mechanisms at play, but there is no consensus on which explanation is dominant or correct. Multiple competing views remain regarding the factors influencing the adhesion of pepper particles.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in available information and the need for controlled experiments to isolate variables such as light exposure and humidity effects.

Camille
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So we have this pepper shaker made of glass with a print on it.

pepper_shaker_2.jpg


One fine dinner, it ran out of pepper, so I opened the lid to fill it in and noticed a peculiar thing – small particles of pepper dust were stuck to the inside glass walls but only in places, where the print wasn’t present on the other side. Everywhere directly behing the print, the pepper particles almost didn’t stick to the glass.

(These photos also show vertical traces from a spoon, which are not relevant, I hope you’ll see the phenomenon anyway.)

pepper_stuck.jpg


I’ve been wondering about this for a while and been thinking whether it’s got to do with light, or light and humidity, or electric charge…

But as for now, I don’t have the final answer, so I’ve decided to ask the Internet.
 
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Fine particles stick to stuff through electric charge and/or trace moisture. I'd suspect charge here ...
 
I wonder if sunlight charges the glass, so the print blocked the sun.

If you wipe it off does the pepper still stick? I wonder if you can find out how long it takes to get static built up. Then you could see if keeping it out of the sun changes that.
 
Dale said:
I wonder if sunlight charges the glass, so the print blocked the sun.

Or heats the glass, reducing the condensation.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Or heats the glass, reducing the condensation.
Yeah, it would be hard to control for that without a careful setup which is probably not feasible.
 
I don't think there is enough information to confirm the dominant mechanism ... I usually think of charging by sunlight or rubbing when looking at glass.
... among other things that is.
 

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