2006-06-14 11:48:26 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Of course it would. There would just be no one around to HEAR it. That doesn't mean it wouldn't make NOISE! Gah, I hate when people ask this question! (No offense!)
2006-06-14 11:54:30 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is an old trick question. You must get the person who asks the question to define "noise". Noise or sound can be defined in either physical terms or physiological terms. If the person says that sound is compressions and rarifications in the air, the physics definition, then obviously it is independant of any person being there. On the other hand, if the person who is asking the question defines sound in physiological terms as that which is percieved by the brain as electrical impulses generated by the cilia in the inner ear as a result of movement of the ear drum, then "sound" is dependant upon someone or something being there to "hear" the sound. As you can see, whether there is sound when the tree falls depends upon how the asker of the question defines sound. Pin that person down to a clear definition of sound and you can easily answer the question.
2006-06-14 12:01:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This question is often put forward by communications teachers as an analogy for the communication model.
For communication to take place, there must be: 1) a sender, a 2) a message and a 3) receiver. If any one of these is missing, there is no communication.
The answer is then no (a logically wrong answer) because nobody was there to hear it. Therefore no communication took place.
It is intended to be an absurd question to illustrate the necessity of all parts of the communication model.
2006-06-14 13:23:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think this question arises out of some abstract analogy to quantum mechanics in that atomic and sub atomic particles exist in all possible states up until they are observed. It then raises the question of 'is everything we see/experience in the universe only so because we have observed it and thus made it that way?' because we could never really know whats going on without observing. Bit of a mind fucI< hey.
2006-06-14 12:16:12 · answer #4 · answered by Ren 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the tree makes a sound! Thats like saying if you were deaf and you flush a toilet do you hear the water go down?
2006-06-14 11:54:52 · answer #5 · answered by Daria 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah, cuz by the tree falling of course it would make a noise.
2006-06-14 11:53:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes only if it fell fast enough to make a banging noise if it was falling down slowly it wont make sound.
2006-06-14 11:54:21 · answer #7 · answered by N.M.P.gameplayparkjaeG.yun213323 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would make sound waves because it is a natural reaction, but if no one hears it it would not make a sound because sound is actually a psychological perception.
2006-06-14 11:55:29 · answer #8 · answered by woodchuck 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those double negatives get me. If there "wasn't nobody", there was obviously somebody, because there wasn't nobody, right?
2006-06-14 12:34:34 · answer #9 · answered by kellykellykelly16 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's the sound of one hand clapping?
2006-06-14 11:51:49 · answer #10 · answered by matt8_2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋