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A clap is the sound made by striking together two flat surfaces, as in the body parts of humans or animals. Humans clap with the palms of their hands, often in a constant drone to express appreciation or approval (see applause), but also in rhythm to match sounds in music and dance. Seals are among the animals that clap. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Applause (Latin applaudere, to strike upon, clap) is primarily the expression of approval by the act of clapping, or striking the palms of the hands together, in order to create noise; generally any expression of approval. ... For other uses, see Rhythm (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Dance (disambiguation). ... Families Odobenidae Otariidae Phocidae Pinnipeds (fin-feet, lit. ...

Clapping is used to turn appliances on and off with The Clapper. Home appliances are electrical/mechanical appliances which accomplish some household functions, such as cooking or cleaning. ... The Clapper as used to control a table lamp The Clapper is a gadget that uses a sound-activated switch sensitive to hand clapping, to turn off and on any two appliances that are plugged into it depending on the number of times you clap. ...

Some people slap the back of one hand into the palm of the other hand to signify urgency or enthusiasm; others consider it uncouth.

Perhaps the best-known koan involves (at least superficially) consideration of the act of clapping: "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" A koan (pronounced ) is a story, dialog, question, or statement in the history and lore of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, generally containing aspects that are inaccessible to rational understanding, yet that may be accessible to intuition. ...

Clapping is occasionally used as a percussion element in music, particularly in Gospel music. One composition by Steve Reich, Clapping Music, is entirely performed by clapping. The clapping patterns known as keplok are important in Javanese gamelan. A type of synthesized clap is popular in many rap and hip hop songs as well. Percussion redirects here. ... For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ... Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as (in terms of the varying music styles) to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music. ... Stephen Michael Reich (born October 3, 1936) is an American composer. ... Clapping music is a minimalist piece written by Steve Reich in 1972. ... Keplok is a style of clapping used in Javanese gamelan. ... Javanese gamelan ensamble with two female sinden (choral singer) during traditional Javanese wedding at Sasono Utomo, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta, Indonesia A gamelan is a kind of musical ensemble of Indonesia typically featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums, and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked... RAP may mean: the IATA airport code for Rapid City Regional Airport Rassemblement pour lalternative progressiste, a Québecois political party. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ...

World Record

The world record for the most claps in sixty seconds is 7210, which is held by David "Bread" Webb of Huddersfield, SD.^{[citation needed]}

Pedagogical applications

Music students often clap the rhythm of written music to help learn the value of different notes and to get accustomed to the rhythm of new pieces. A book that is often used to demonstrate this is Rhythmic Training by Robert Starer.^{[citation needed]} Robert Starer (1924–2001 ) was an Austrian composer born in Vienna. ...

Acoustics applications

Clapping can be used in acoustics to check the reverberation time of a room. The clap's decay time measures this. Acoustics is the interdisciplinary sciences that always deals with the study of sound, ultrasound and infrasound (all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids). ...

Medical applications

Inhalation therapists frequently use clapping (light slaps with a cupped hand on a patient's back, chest, and under arms) to dislodge mucus from breathing passages in order to improve airflow.^{[citation needed]}

Clapping involves stimulation, activation and excitation of corresponding areas in the sensory and motor homunculus present in cerebral cortex. The degree and the pattern of stimulation are not yet studied in detail. But it appears to be promising adjuvant therapy in cases of depression. Tradtional (and sometimes devotional) music all over the world involves clapping.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Applause
• Concert etiquette
• Golf clap
• Tejime
• Chest physiotherapy
• Clapping game

Applause (Latin applaudere, to strike upon, clap) is primarily the expression of approval by the act of clapping, or striking the palms of the hands together, in order to create noise; generally any expression of approval. ... Concert etiquette refers to standards of behavior at concerts such as opera or ballet. ... A golf clap is a sarcastic form of applause, used to show indifference or disdain. ... Chest physiotherapy (CPT) is a broad, non-specific term used to describe treatments generally performed by respiratory therapists whereby breathing is improved by the indirect removal of mucus from the breathing passages of a patient. ... This article or section seems to contain too many examples (or of a poor quality) for an encyclopedia entry. ...

External reference

• Kent French (a.k.a. "Toast"), world's fastest clapper: (video) (site)