Final answer:
The comb becomes negatively charged when combing hair because electrons are transferred to the comb, making the correct answer c. Electrons are transferred to the comb. The electrostatic attraction is more effective in dry conditions and with irregularly torn paper due to greater interaction with electrostatic forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a hard rubber comb is used to comb hair on a dry day, and the hair is attracted to the comb, the comb becomes negatively charged. This is because electrons are transferred to the comb. The correct answer to the question is c. Electrons are transferred to the comb. The hair loses some of its electrons to the comb during the combing process, making the hair positively charged and the comb negatively charged. This process is an example of triboelectric charging, where one material becomes electrically charged after it comes into frictional contact with another material.
The torn paper in the Take-Home Experiment is more attractive to the comb than cut paper likely because the edges of the torn paper have more irregularities that can interact with the electrostatic forces emanating from the charged comb.
When performing the Take-Home Experiment in high humidity conditions, such as after a shower, the water vapor in the air allows charges to dissipate more easily, thus reducing the electrostatic effects. As a result, it is easier to observe electrostatic attraction in dry air than in moist air because the presence of water molecules in the air makes it conductive, allowing for the charges to move away more easily from the charged objects.