Scientists finally work out how clapping hands generates sound

• A study has unravelled the physics behind the sound of hand claps, revealing it's more complex than just hands hitting each other.
• The sound is generated by a pocket of air compressed between the hands and rapidly expelled, causing air molecules to vibrate, similar to the Helmholtz resonance principle.
• Researchers used live experiments, theoretical modelling, and silicone replicas of hands, modifying speed, shape, and skin softness to understand clapping.
• The elasticity of hands causes energy absorption, resulting in a short "pop" sound rather than a longer noise.
• Researchers suggest clapping could potentially be used for human identification due to the unique sound and frequency of each person's clap.

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Scientists finally crack mystery of how clapping generates sound