US PHYSICISTS may have an answer to avoiding "splashback" in an effort to bring greater harmony to family bathrooms.

The Brigham Young University team used high-speed cameras in a "Splash Lab" to determine how best to avoid splashback when urinating.

The BBC reports that they will present their research at an American Physical Society meeting.

"In response to harsh and repeated criticisms from our mothers and several failed relationships with women, we present the splash dynamics of a simulated human male urine stream," reads their conference abstract.

The team, who refer to themselves as the "wizz kids", found that a "narrow angle of attack" was best.

Detergents on toilet bowls can also increase splash by reducing the surface tension of the water.

They recommend getting as close as you can because the male urine stream breaks up about 6 or 7 inches after you start urinating.

The team also looked at standing versus sitting. While sitting means you are closer to getting wet, the researchers found "it is the best sure-fire way to avoid unwanted splashing in a traditional toilet."

"Narrowing the angle really helps," said researcher Randy Hurd said. "For a typical urinal, 'best practice' means standing slightly to one side, and aiming downwards at a low angle of impact."

The Brigham-Young team has been "inundated" with commercial products to reduce spray - such as fabric inserts, urinals with triangular fins, and toilet bowls with unusually sloping angles.

Sega has even developed a "Toylet" game in Tokyo Metro stations to award men points for accuracy.

The Splash Lab team plans to investigate further toilet designs and find "the optimal approach for urinal usage."

