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Discussion » Questions » Random Knowledge » What’s so awful about nails on a chalkboard?

What’s so awful about nails on a chalkboard?

There are certain sounds that drive us batty. For some people, it's nails on a chalkboard. For others, it’s the squeaking sound of styrofoam. What causes this reaction?

Posted - October 26, 2017

Responses


  • 13071
    Human sensitivity to sound waves is very real.  fluctuations in an individual sound at rates between approximately 20 and 200 Hz create the roughest noises. Chalk must be in that range I guess.
      October 26, 2017 1:18 PM MDT
    3

  • 22891
    cause it drives some people crazy
      October 26, 2017 1:47 PM MDT
    2

  • 44173
    I use to do it on purpose when my students became unruly.
      October 26, 2017 3:31 PM MDT
    3

  • 5835
    Bits of earwax sometimes dry into flakes and they resonate at some specific frequency. It's like having a buzzer on a nerve ending. A hair can give the same effect.
      October 26, 2017 4:30 PM MDT
    3

  • 22853

    I don't know the specifics of what causes the reactions.

    But, for me, weirdly, it's metal shovels scraping/picking up stuff from a dry cement/asphalt surface. Even more difficult for me was that it was part of my job.
    :)
      October 26, 2017 5:58 PM MDT
    2

  • 2465
    What causes the reaction?  It's the SOUND that causes the reaction. 
      October 26, 2017 6:21 PM MDT
    1

  • 1430
    imagine bitting on a chalkboard... seems much worst than nail 
      October 29, 2017 4:14 PM MDT
    1

  • 2465
    Hmm, I've never bitt a chalkboard. 
      October 30, 2017 2:15 PM MDT
    1