Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Snapping Fingers 
Name:  Bronte
Status: student
Grade: 6-8
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 4/26/2005
Question:
When you click your fingers how does the sound happen, is it to do with the friction of your to fingers or the slapping of your finger and hand?

Replies:
The friction from your fingers rubbing together can be heard briefly before the snap, as a whisking sound. The snap itself is from the impact of your finger against your palm.

Ryan Belscamper

The slapping impact, absolutely. The friction would only make a faint brief rubbing or hissing noise, and we know we hear more than that.

If your finger broke away quickly enough from its position locked to the thumb by friction, then the acceleration of the surface area of the finger might in principle be able to make a sudden sharp loud noise. But I am sure that the real break-away is not that abrupt.

And you can try for yourself: snap your fingers but be sure the finger misses the palm. Or insert some padding on your palm, near the base of you thumb. A band-aid might work. A folded tissue has some effect for me. Your thumb and finger are doing the same friction and fast break-away, but much less sound results. And only the slapping point of finger on hand has been changed.

Jim Swenson


Click here to return to the General Topics Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory