What exactly causes the 'snapping' sound when someone snaps their fingers?

Answer 1

friction

Answer 2

i think that most people are looking for just one thing to make the sound. there is a combination between the friction between ur middle finger (or whichever finger you use, depending on how u snap)and ur thumb. and the second part of the sound is ur finger slapping ur palm. if you listen closely there is 2 parts to the sound. and i guess that calivation or watever that person was talking about could play a role as well, but to put it simply and for everyones benefit not to overthink it and give yourself a headache. its the friction then the slapping.

Answer 3

The third finger hitting the palm of your hand. It is similar to how a clap is produced but with only one finger. Try slapping your third finger violently against your palm without snapping. You can almost hear the sound. Try clapping with just one hand. Again, you can almost hear it. But you need more velocity to increase the sound so it sounds like a "snap", or a clap.

The increased velocity comes by bracing your third finger against your thumb, then quickly sliding your thumb away so your third finger can pound against your palm hard enough to make that snapping sound!

Answer 4

It is definitely NOT friction, as friction between bones hurts and is a condition of lack of cartilage at joints. To prove the point, take into account that a healthy individual can pull a finger away from his/her hand and still make the sound. Can the bones possibly undergo friction then? no. The fact of the matter is that this sound is under investigation and the truth behind it is still unknown, yet various theories exist.

The most probable theory until now, in my opinion, is that of cavitation; in which small vaccuum filled holes in the tissue are stretched and cause bubbles to "pop" making the sharp sound.

Answer 5

the connecting of the snapping middle finger and the palm under speed and force.

if you do the same thing with your middle fingers from different hands (or any fingers, like your 2 pinkies)there is only a slight noise associated with the friction, but it is the crashing of the two solid objects (finger and palm) that cause the noise you hear.

Answer 6

The snap is caused by your finger rapidly hitting the base of your thumb. It's like a miniature clap, hehehe.

Answer 7

No, No, No!
When you snap your fingers, for a split of second a tiny mass of air caught in between your finger and your palm goes SUPERSONIC, thus producing that snap-noise, which is a bang.

Same thing goes when you are clapping your palms.

TO THE VOTERS:
The one who voted this answer as bad is an IGNORANT WHICH PLAYS SMART.

REMEMBER:
1. Every single NOISE (not sound) produced in an elastic medium is dued to a sonic bang! And a sonic bang is produced ONLY AND ONLY if a portion - whatever tiny - of that medium goes SUPERSONIC.
2. Voting is your right, not your duty!

Answer 8

Its your finger "slapping" against your palm. Your fingers are locked, then they slip, releasing the built up energy. The released fingers SLAPs against skin (your palm) causing the noise.

Try placing an object where your finger lands... see the sound deadens.

Answer 9

the nitrogen oxide gas caught between the joints are released when the fingers make that snapping or popping sound

Answer 10

The noise occurs when sound escapes from the ridges between your fingerprints, and also from the finger slapping the inside palm.

Answer 11

Finger impact on the inner palm. try it, listen to when the sound occurs.