Comprehensive Guide to Contact, Non-Contact Forces, and Magnetism for Students Practice Exam

A balloon will stick to your hair because of static electricity due to the process of charging through friction. When you rub the balloon against your hair, electrons are transferred between the two surfaces. This causes the balloon to become negatively charged while your hair becomes positively charged. The difference in charge creates an attractive force, allowing the balloon to stick to your hair.

In contrast, other options like a paper clip or a metal ruler may not demonstrate the same level of attraction due to their conductive properties. Metal objects like these easily dissipate any accumulated static charge rather than holding onto it, which prevents them from creating a noticeable static cling. A wooden stick typically does not generate a significant charge when rubbed against hair because it is not a good conductor of electricity and does not allow the same electron transfer to occur as effectively as a rubbery balloon does.