College Physics (4th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073512141
ISBN 13: 978-0-07351-214-3

Chapter 17 - Conceptual Questions - Page 649: 10

Answer

If the strands of hair are positively charged, the hairs will exert a repelling force on each other, which pushes the hairs as far away from each other as possible. Since the hairs are still attached to the head, the farthest the hairs can get from each other is to move straight out from the head radially.

Work Step by Step

Hair loses electrons very easily and the strands of hair become positively charged when they lose electrons. If the strands of hair are positively charged, the hairs will exert a repelling force on each other, which pushes the hairs as far away from each other as possible. Since the hairs are still attached to the head, the farthest the hairs can get from each other is to move straight out from the head radially.
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