As you are sliding down a plastic slide in a playground, your hair stands up on its ends. Which statement best explains why your hair stands up after sliding down the plastic slide?

Question

Friction causes a transfer of electrons between the slide and you, making each of your like-charged hairs repel each other.
Friction causes a transfer of electrons between the slide and you, making your like-charged hairs attract the air through induction.

Answer 1

The correct statement is:

Friction causes a transfer of electrons between the slide and you, making each of your like-charged hairs repel each other.

When you slide down the plastic slide, friction between your body and the slide can result in the transfer of electrons. This process can cause your body (and consequently your hair) to become charged with static electricity. If your hair becomes charged similarly (i.e., all acquiring the same type of charge), the like charges will repel each other, causing your hair to stand up.