What will happen when you rub a plastic on a cloth then place the plastic near your hair?
The hair, if the plastic has a charge on it (probably it does) will stand out toward the plastic and be attracted towards it. But you could try that with a comb and see for yourself.
Got Frizz?
Hair naturally has a negative charge — sort of like static electricity — says Jeni Thomas, a senior chemist with Procter & Gamble, but this is insulated by our hair's protective lipid layer. Damaged hair has higher negative charge, and the hairs literally try to separate from each other, creating frizz.
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so it appears that your hair loses electrons to the plastic, which may have lost electrons during the rubbing.
After rubbing the cloth, the plastic will become "negatively charged". To attract, objects have to be oppositely charged. So, our hair is "positively charged"...?
From what I know, hair is negatively charged so care to tell me how it became positively charged?
When you rub a plastic object like a comb or a balloon on a cloth, it creates static electricity. This happens because the friction between the plastic and the cloth causes the electrons to move from one material to another, causing a build-up of electric charge.
Now, when you bring the charged plastic object near your hair, interesting things happen. The hair strands are typically neutral (with an equal number of positive and negative charges) but can be attracted to the charged object due to the principle of electrostatics.
Depending on the type of charge on the plastic, two scenarios can occur:
1. If the plastic has a positive charge: The positive charges on the plastic will attract the negative charges in your hair. As a result, the hair strands get pulled toward the plastic object.
2. If the plastic has a negative charge: The negative charges on the plastic will attract the positive charges in your hair. This will cause the hair strands to stand up and repel each other, resulting in an effect known as "static cling" where the hair appears to be sticking out or "electrically charged."
It's important to note that the effect varies depending on the individual's hair type and the humidity in the surroundings. Dry air tends to enhance static electricity, while moist air can reduce or eliminate the effect.
To experience this phenomenon, follow these steps:
1. Find a plastic object such as a comb or a balloon.
2. Rub the plastic object vigorously against a cloth, preferably made from natural fibers like wool or silk.
3. Place the charged plastic near your hair, without touching it.
4. Observe the hair's reaction, including any attraction or repulsion.
Remember to exercise caution and avoid bringing charged objects too close to sensitive areas like the eyes or sensitive electronic devices, as static electricity can sometimes cause minor discomfort or damage.