2006-06-13 08:54:45 · 21 answers · asked by junk_012001 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
I've answered this question several times before (when you enter a question, Yahoo! directs you to a list of similar questions already answered).
It is a common misconception that, if a tree falls, it has to make a sound, regardless of whether or not something is around to hear it. The misconception is between the words "sound" and "vibration."
When a tree falls, it vibrates the earth and the air around it. Sound, a sense, is how most animals interpret those vibrations at specific frequencies (Anywhere from 20-20,000Hz for humans). Unless something is around to interpret the vibrations caused by the tree's fall, it is not heard and cannot produce a "sound."
2006-06-13 09:13:16 · answer #1 · answered by Baseball Fanatic 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, a tree that falls when no one is around to hear it does make a sound. While some people argue that this cannot be be proven because an experiment cannot be done, one can simply refer to the principles of sound waves and they will learn that as long as there is air around the tree, it will make a sound because sound travels through air. If the tree fell in an airless vacuum, such as outer space, the tree would not make a sound because there is no air for the sound waves to travel through.
2006-06-13 09:01:27 · answer #2 · answered by Brainless Wonder 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It did when my uncle Larry dressed as a tree and hid in the woods from his crazy wife. The first ax blow left him stunned, after that, the next three or four and he was screaming like a stuck pig. Man was that funny, at least until he bled to death, then it lost some of the funnyness.
2006-06-13 08:59:31 · answer #3 · answered by Christopher C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. The fact that there is no organism around to register the sound waves is irrelevant to the fact that the waves were actually emitted. It's kind of like the earth, from its inception being spherical and not the center of the universe before human science realized otherwise.
2006-06-13 09:04:16 · answer #4 · answered by SedaCanela 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2006-06-13 11:28:48 · answer #5 · answered by Sparky 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is not noise. It only becomes noise when someone is around that hears the vibrations.
2006-06-13 09:01:22 · answer #6 · answered by ginaforu5448 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does not, because by definition, a noise is something that is heard.
2006-06-13 09:01:01 · answer #7 · answered by delacroix 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sends out sound waves that could be heard if someone or somethings ears were in the vicinity.
2006-06-13 09:00:36 · answer #8 · answered by ken t 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's your definition of noise?
2006-06-13 08:59:45 · answer #9 · answered by my2angels2498 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
of course it makes a noise,
2006-06-14 01:57:21 · answer #10 · answered by Dr.Feelgood 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋