GCSE Physics: Electrostatics
When you run two electronic insulators together, you rub some of the electrons (- charge) off of one material, and onto the other material. The material that has had the electrons removed is left with a + charge and the other with a - charge, as this material has gained electrons and so gained a negative charge.If you place the material with the positive charge near some scraps of paper it will neutralise itself via a process known as induction. The paper will be attracted to it, and have it's charge neutralised by taking some of the papers electrons. This leaves the paper with a positive charge. If we repeated this with the material with a negative charge the electrons on the negative material would move to the paper, neutralising the material and leaving the paper with a negative charge. The object that is touched can be either an insulator or a conductor.