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Asked by Ian21 to Angela, Claire, Ian, Robert, Sarah on 17 Nov 2014.
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Sarah Harris answered on 17 Nov 2014:
Because of static electricity! In dry and cold weather there is less moisture in the air, which makes it worse (especially if you have frizzy hair like me!)
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Angela Stokes answered on 17 Nov 2014:
Yes -static electricity is to blame – if you look closely at my photo my hair is exhibiting this phenomenon…it was a very cold day and I had removed my hat for a photo!
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Ian Cade answered on 17 Nov 2014:
When you put your hat on, charge transfers between your hair and your hat (don’t know which way round the electrons flow, but lets say your hair gains some electrons) leaving a (static electrical) charge on your hat (positive) and the opposite charge on your hair (negative).
In particular there is a negative charge on *each* of your hairs..
There is a general principal concerning the electromatgentic force: Similar charges repel each other and disimmilar charges attract each other.
So each of your negatively charged hairs repels its negatively charged neighbours… with the result that all of your hairs try to get as far from each other as possible => your hair stands up!
Comments
Ian commented on :
… ah yes, this is worse on a dry day, because dry air is less conductive so the charge on your hair doesn’t dissipate so quickly.