What is electrostatic law of attraction and repulsion Why do a plastic comb rubbed against dry hair attract tiny bits of paper?

Plastic comb gets electrically charged due to rubbing & therefore it attracts tiny pieces of paper. A charged body can attract an uncharged body.

When I brush my hair why does it go static?

So, What Causes Hair Static? Static electricity is created when two unlike objects rub against each other. This swap causes a kind of electric charge to build up on your hair. If there is humidity in the air, the charge can usually just go away.

Can static electricity make sparks?

A static electric spark occurs when an object with a surplus of negative electrons comes close to another object with less negative charge – and the surplus of electrons is large enough to make the electrons “jump.” The electrons flow from where they’ve built up – like on you after walking across a wool rug – to the …

Why a nylon or plastic comb gets electrified on combing dry hair or on rubbing but a metal article like Spoon does not give reason?

Plastic comb is a poor conductor of electricity so they contain static charges. While rubbing due to friction these static charges gain electric and gets electrified. Wheras metal like spoon does not contain static conductors as they are good conductors of electricity.

When you rub a plastic comb against your hair?

When two surfaces are rubbed together there is friction between them. Friction is a resistance against the movement of an object as a result of its contact with another object. This means that when you rubbed the plastic comb along your hair, your hair resisted the movement of the comb and slowed it down.

Why can plastic become charged if you rub it but not metal?

When you rub plastic, you transfer electrons from one material to the other. Because plastic is an insulator, the electrons cannot flow through it so they effectively get stuck there – they are static. In a metal, the electrons would get conducted away (e.g. back to the material they have come from).

How do I stop static electricity in my hair?

Tips for getting rid of static

1. Gently rub your hair with a dryer sheet.
2. Apply hairspray or a light leave-in conditioner.
3. Apply face moisturizer to static strands.
4. Put some water on your fingertips.
5. Use a static guard, like the kind you use on your laundry.

Why does my hair have static electricity?

What causes static hair? Static hair occurs when your hair builds up an electric charge, meaning it has gained some extra electrons thanks to friction or a change in humidity. Plus, the elements, a lack of moisture in the air, and heated indoor environments can all exacerbate static hair.

What causes sparking?

A spark is created when the applied electric field exceeds the dielectric breakdown strength of the intervening medium. The exponentially-increasing electrons and ions rapidly cause regions of the air in the gap to become electrically conductive in a process called dielectric breakdown.

Can static electricity see?

It’s called “static” because the charges remain in one area rather than moving or “flowing” to another area. We see static electricity every day. It can even build up on us. For example, when we rub our feet on the carpet and then zap something when we touch it.

What happens when you rub a plastic comb on your hair?

If you comb your hair, for example, electrons leave the atoms and molecules in your hair and travel to the plastic comb. The comb, covered in negatively charged electrons, becomes negatively charged as well, and your hair is left with a positive charge. Shocks come from gaining or losing electric charge in a hurry.

How is charge induced while rubbing a plastic comb against hair?

When we rub a plastic comb on our dry hair then the electrons of hair are transferred into the comb and the comb becomes negatively charged. When this comb is brought near to the pieces of paper, positive charges accumulate at the edges of paper and gets attracted towards the comb.