Because you can knock a door with your hand down as well and it would be more convenient?
In: Physics
Monkey see monkey do. People just copy the social behaviors of others around them. You don’t need a mechanical diagram or something because that isn’t really the reason.
leverage/physiology … **try throwing a ball any other way.**
even underhand you need a bigger swing to get the same distance on the ball (assuming similar release heights)
You can throw a ball (or knock harder/easier) with your arm in that position
Why do you raise your hand when you wave?
I mean, just try yourself. It’s significantly more comfortable to do it with the hand raised.
Why squat to bend down and pick something up when you could simply relax all your muscles at once and fall limp?
This question brought back a funny memory with my son and every now and again we do it. So when he was a little guy, maybe 4 or 5, we walked up to the door and I told him to knock. So he knocked like “normal” with his arm raised. Nobody answered so I said “try a low knock,” and then I kept my hand down but turned the palm towards the door to knock a couple times. He smiled and nodded like “ah, yes, the low knock. Of course.” So as he grew up we’d sometimes be like “no answer. Did you knock? Did you try a low knock?” If someone didn’t answer
So that the knocking sound is closer to the person’s ear.
If you knock too low to the ground, the “knocking” sound waves might go right under them if they’re standing up. Especially if you’re knocking on a very tall person’s door.
[Low knockers on front doors do exist as well](https://blog.doorindustryjournal.co.uk/2021/08/Coastal-Launch-New-Ring-Door-Knocker-made-from-solid-316-Marine-Grade-Stainless-Steel-in-5-finishes%20.html)
But I think, as others have said, it feels more comfortable and natural to knock high since the pivot point (shoulder) is there
I think it’s also because the knocking sound will be heard more clearly when it comes from higher up, where it’s also closer to head (and therefore ear) height, and less likely to be dampened by waist-height things like sofas and tables, but that’s just my speculation
Also I think a high knock implies it’s an adult, whose status kind of obliges you to respect people’s time and answer the door quickly, whereas a low knock might seem a bit weirder, as it could be anything from an animal like a dog or a child just messing around
The overhanded knocking motion has your hand swinging towards the door. An underhanded knock will naturally want to pendulum away from the door. Between that and the underhanded knock having poor ergonomics, the two techniques are just not comparable.
Totally guessing, but maybe it has to do with door knockers that are mounted into the door, which are at shoulder height. They might be that height because that’s where we knock, but again, I don’t know what I’m talking about
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