Final answer:
Generated static electricity is decreased in humid air because water vapor increases the air's conductivity, allowing electric charges to dissipate more easily.
Step-by-step explanation:
Static electricity is decreased in humid air compared to dry air. The presence of water vapor in the air increases conductivity and allows electric charges to dissipate more easily. This is why static effects are harder to achieve in moist environments. An example of this can be seen in the 'Take-Home Experiment: Electrostatics and Humidity' where rubbing a comb through your hair in a moist bathroom after a shower produces fewer static effects compared to doing the same in a dry environment. Similarly, torn paper, being more irregular and having more edges, can hold an electric charge more easily, making it more attractive to static electricity compared to cut paper.