A technician vigorously rubs a PVC conduit pipe with a dry polyester cloth, causing the pipe to acquire a negative electrostatic charge. When the pipe is held near a lightweight, neutral polystyrene foam block, the block is attracted to the pipe and sticks to it, as illustrated in the diagram.
Explain, in terms of charge distribution and electrostatic forces, why the negatively charged PVC pipe attracts and sticks to the neutral polystyrene block.