2006-07-06 05:13:09 · 33 answers · asked by oldgit 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes. The animals are still there to hear it.
2006-07-06 05:16:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, absolutely not! The answers above are based on an incorrect assumption.
A "noise" is the act of vibrations in the air impinging on the human ear drum. Without a human ear drum, there are only "vibrations" ... no "noise."
As for the argument that there are animals around to sense the vibrations ... how do we know what animals sense, and how they perceive it? Were they able to speak, they might describe that falling tree as "delicious" or "smelly" or "rough" ... we just don't know how they perceive.
So no, a falling tree in an empty forest makes vibrations, but unless there is a human being around to hear it, there is no noise, at all.
2006-07-06 05:22:46 · answer #2 · answered by Grendle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, because the movement of the tree still disturbs the air, thus creating a sound. The real question should be, if a tree falls on a hippie in a forest, does anyone care?
2006-07-06 05:17:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think this relates to the duality kind of thing that describes light as a particle and a wave; the problem is that we don't know until we observe it. And by observe I don't mean necessarily watch. It's a philosophical physics question, and as such comes up when mesuring the momentum and positioning of thiings like electrons in the atom. It is both a wave with a deBroglie wavelength and a particle with momentum, but until you 'observe' it for example, fling a photon in with known energy/momentum and watch the change in energy.momentum of the known particle, you don't know which.
So if a tree falls, it makes a sound and doesn't make a sound; you will know which upon observing.
This is not as silly a question as it sounds; it is by asking these types of questions that you gain further insight into the physics of the world around us. I reckon anyway!
2006-07-11 07:45:08 · answer #4 · answered by Alex B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends how it falls and what it falls on. I may make a loud noise or a subdue one. And if nobodies is there to hear it , the answer is nobody care. Because they don t know about it.
According to the theory of relativity if there is no observer than the tree did not fall. You can do a lot of things with the theory of relativity.
2006-07-06 05:27:55 · answer #5 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Alex B and Grendle. The problem illustrates crudely the same problem as Schrodingers cat, the outcome cannot be determined unitl observed, or in this case, heard.
The energy transferred as the branch split and crashed to the ground would generate shock waves through the air synonymous with sound, however, sound is the name we give to the perception of hearing. Hearing being the conversion of air particle vibration to neural stimulus via the eardrum and cochlea.
No ear, no sound, but still a shock wave!
2006-07-12 11:52:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does the tree really fall? If nobody is around how can we know the tree has fallen, mother nature could have gently placed the tree on the ground just for a laugh
2006-07-06 08:38:08 · answer #7 · answered by Dilly the Kid 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course. The energy of the falling tree when it hits the ground is partially converted into sound.
2006-07-06 05:18:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Set up a microphone and make a machine to chop down a tree and just wait 50 miles away.
2006-07-06 05:16:27 · answer #9 · answered by Cali Dude 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course. Objects always make noise when something happens to them that would cause it. Sound and noise do not change depending on who hears them.
2006-07-06 05:20:19 · answer #10 · answered by j_ririe20 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why,are the laws of physics prone to breaking down a lot in forests?
2006-07-06 05:24:48 · answer #11 · answered by fiend_indeed 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋