What is the sound of one hand clapping?

BB: If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?

Even if you are silent it goes on making a hideous racket.

it's a question thats supposed to make you think it has no answer

AM: the hand could be clapping against something though e.g your leg or a wall and then it would make a sound. Also if you do clap one hand it will slice through the air causing vibrations and sound is vibrations so it would make a sound but we wouldnt be able to hear it but maybe a bat would but i doubt it! This theory is a little quirky lol. Also a clap is a sound. So if this hand is clapping it must be making a sound.

ANSWER:

On the one hand, one handed applause is a lot like a backhanded compliment. People who only applaud using one hand are either very, very lazy or some kind of Zen like critic. On the other hand, what if you only have one hand and you really, really want to applaud something? Of course, there is always knee slapping which sounds quite a bit different than clapping but in the context of applause I believe knee slapping would sound just fine.

Answer:

You are both w-r-o-n-g. the question is: whats the sound of one hand clapping, not whats the sound of one hand... and a wall clapping. it- would- make- no- sound, just as the tree wouldnt, sound is a vibration, if nothing picks it up- it dosent do anything, like sight is just what your brain is pieceing together. its the easiest philosiphy question- i doubt it could even be titled under philosiphy

Qman1's answer: Hold your hand up and flat. Then bring it down but dont curl your finger, resulting in the bottom of the finger tip touch the plam and not the top. Do this repetitively. TADA!

First answer by Ranger22. Last edit by Qman1. Contributor trust: 8 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 80 [recommend question]