The picture shows a child sliding down a plastic slide.

Question

Which statement best describes why the child's hair stands up after he slides down the slide?

a
Friction caused a transfer of electrons between the slide and the child, making his like-charged hairs attract the air through induction.
b
Energy was transferred from the slide to the child through induction, causing the child's hair to become charged and stand up.
c
Friction caused a transfer of electrons between the slide and the child, making each of his like-charged hairs repel each other.
d
Energy was transferred from the child to the slide through conduction, causing the child's hair to become charged and stand up.

Answer 1

The statement that best describes why the child's hair stands up after sliding down the slide is:

c. Friction caused a transfer of electrons between the slide and the child, making each of his like-charged hairs repel each other.

When the child slides down the plastic slide, friction occurs, which can cause a transfer of electrons between the slide and the child. This process can lead to the child becoming charged (usually negatively) while the slide may become positively charged. As the child's hair strands also become charged (since they gain the charge from the child), the like-charged hairs repel each other, causing them to stand up.