Discover the Science Behind the Noises of Clapping Hands | Explained by Mayday

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter _Mayday_
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the science behind the sounds produced when clapping hands, focusing on the factors that influence the noise, such as hand shape and air compression. It encompasses conceptual reasoning and exploratory inquiries into the mechanics of sound generation during clapping.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that the shape of the hands affects the sound produced, with flat hands creating a slapping noise and concave hands producing a louder and deeper sound.
  • Another participant suggests that the sound may be due to the compression of air and the forces applied during clapping.
  • A different participant proposes that the variance in sound could be related to the minimal compression of air when hands are nearly flat.
  • One participant argues that while the intensity of air compression affects volume, the frequency of vibration changes the sound, indicating that curved hands may produce a lower frequency than flat hands.
  • There is a mention of resonance in relation to the sound produced, though the reasoning behind this is not fully explained.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various hypotheses regarding the mechanics of sound production during clapping, with no consensus reached on the precise factors involved or their interactions.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the relationship between hand shape, air compression, and sound frequency remain unresolved, and the discussion does not clarify the underlying mechanics of resonance mentioned by participants.

_Mayday_
Messages
808
Reaction score
0
Hi, the other day while clapping :cool: I started thinking what was actually making the noise! This could well be one of those things everyone should know but I have no idea.

Clapping your hands when they are flat makes a slapping noise, but when giving them a slight concave shape, you achieve a louder and deeper sound. Note that, the hands are moving at the same speed, so difference in noise is due to the shape. Is it just hand on hand, or is there something else going on?

Thanks! :bugeye:

_Mayday_
 
Physics news on Phys.org
well, to me i guesss is the compression of air, maybe the moeclues. the forces applied and all make the sound when you clap your hands. Xp
 
In some cases there must be a minimal compression of air, I mean when your hands are nearly flat there cannot be much, but maybe this is what causes the variance in sound.
 
the intensity of the compression of the air only changes the volume of the sound, while the frequency of the vibration changes the sound. It means that when you clap your curved hands, somehow the frequency of the vibration created is lower than with flat hands.
I guess it has something to do with resonance but don't ask me why lol
 
Cheers Celunas.
 

Similar threads

High School Can a Bridge Sing? Solve the Mystery!
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
Graduate Focus all of your ire on me, if you would
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Modern Sci-Fi Books and Their Apparent Obsession with Brain Implants
  • · Replies 44 ·
2
Replies
44
Views
14K
High School What's the Meaning Behind the Fish Post on this Forum?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Physics Is returning to school sensible for me?
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
6K
High School How does sweating cool a person down?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
15K
Considering Switching from Physics to Computer Engineering
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Math Switching from science PhD to math BS?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Need help - should I study Science/Engineering?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
High School Infrared Detectors & The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
  • · Replies 152 ·
6
Replies
152
Views
12K