How IC 555 is Configured

The IC 555 circuit is rigged in such a way that when its pin#2 is grounded, its output
pin#3 becomes momentarily high for some period of time depending upon the values
of the 10uF capacitor.

When a sound hits the mic, the high pulse from IC741 output triggers the BC547
attached to pin2 of IC555 which momentarily grounds pin#2 of IC555, which in turn
put its pin#3 high.

However the instantaneous high at pin#3 of IC555 takes a while to reach the

connected BC547 due to the presence of the 33uF capacitor.

By the time the 33uF charges and switches ON the transistor, the potential at the
collector of the transistor is already gone due the absence of the clap sound which
happens only momentarily.

However with the application of the immediate subsequent clap provides the required
potential at the collector of the transistor which is now allowed to the reach pin#14 of
the IC 4017.

Once this happens the relay driver triggers or deactivates depending upon its initial
condition.

The toggling of the load thus takes place only in response to a pair of clap of sounds
making the circuit reasonably foolpoof.