What Causes the ‘Sound’ of Crumpling Paper?

When you crumple paper, it makes a loud sound because the paper is squeezed and cracks. The more folds there are, the louder it sounds. Imagine pressing your fingers together, it's like that, but with paper! The air inside the paper also helps make the sound bigger.

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Examples

Crushing your homework paper at the end of class makes a loud crunch that everyone hears.
Squeezing a ball of toilet paper feels like it’s screaming.
Your brother crumples up a letter, and it sounds like a small explosion.

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Categories: Physics · sound,acoustics,material science