Which statement best describes static electricity's role in mat formation?

Which statement best describes static electricity's role in mat formation?

• A. Mats form only due to moisture
• B. Mats form when hair strands rub together due to static, especially in dry air
• C. Mats are unrelated to coat thickness
• D. Mats form only when brushing is inadequate

Answer: (B)

Static charges build up when hair fibers rub against each other, transferring electrons as they rearrange during brushing or handling. Those charges make strands cling to one another and tangle, and this clinginess is amplified in dry air because there’s less moisture to dissipate the charge. Humidity helps by allowing charges to move away and neutralize more quickly, so matting is less likely. So the mats form mainly from the friction-induced static cling of hair strands, especially in dry conditions. Moisture alone doesn’t cause mats, coat thickness isn’t the sole factor, and matting isn’t only about brushing being inadequate; static from rubbing in dry air best explains why mats develop.

Static charges build up when hair fibers rub against each other, transferring electrons as they rearrange during brushing or handling. Those charges make strands cling to one another and tangle, and this clinginess is amplified in dry air because there’s less moisture to dissipate the charge. Humidity helps by allowing charges to move away and neutralize more quickly, so matting is less likely. So the mats form mainly from the friction-induced static cling of hair strands, especially in dry conditions. Moisture alone doesn’t cause mats, coat thickness isn’t the sole factor, and matting isn’t only about brushing being inadequate; static from rubbing in dry air best explains why mats develop.