What type of adhesion involves electrostatic forces?

Electrostatic adhesion involves the attraction between materials due to opposite electrical charges. This type of adhesion occurs when two surfaces have a difference in their electrical potentials, leading to attraction. The adhesion is characterized primarily by the nature of the forces at play—specifically, electrostatic forces, which result from the interactions between charged particles.

In contrast, other types of adhesion rely on different mechanisms. Chemical adhesion involves the formation of chemical bonds between materials, which can include covalent, ionic, or hydrogen bonds. Mechanical adhesion relies on physical interlocking between surfaces, where rough surfaces aid in adhering to one another. Dispersive adhesion is based on van der Waals forces that occur between molecules at a very short range, commonly involving surface energy interactions without significant charge involvement.

Thus, the defining characteristic of electrostatic adhesion is the essential role of electrical charges, making it the correct choice.