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

Energy is transferred from you to the slide through conduction, causing your hair to become charged and stand up.
Energy is transferred from you to the slide through conduction, causing your hair to become charged and stand up.

Energy is transferred from the slide to you through induction, causing your hair to become charged and stand up.

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, the friction between your body and the slide causes electrons to transfer. This process typically results in you becoming positively charged (if you lose electrons) and the slide becoming negatively charged. Because all of your hair strands become similarly charged, they repel each other, causing your hair to stand up.