Why do crisp packets and sweet wrappers make so much noise?

Dave - Well, I think this is quite a complicated one. I think one of the things is they're big sheets so if you move them like this piece of paper any movements they make are very well connected to the air because they've got a large area. If they move a bit then the air has to move. The vibrations in them get transferred to air very easily. Also if you take a piece of paper of a crisp packet and crumple it, it doesn't just fold neatly and you get nice even folds. You tend to get complicated folds which actually become quite strong. When you break those you actually release a load of energy which vibrates everything and connects to the air. The air vibrates well and makes a lot of noise.