I'm looking for a serious answer here!
I want to know if sound is simply a vibration that only "makes" a sound if it is received by an ear and confirmed in a brain or does it make a sound regardless of whether or not there is any life form around to receive it?
2006-08-03 15:50:09 · 53 answers · asked by Maxafrigginlutely 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Check out the following link. The answer is too complex for this forum
2006-08-03 19:51:46 · answer #1 · answered by Back Porch Willy 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A sound is a sound is a sound is a sound. Ha! Yes, it makes a sound regardless of whether or not there is any life form around to receive it. Don't ask me how I know. I just do. I'm just that good. :)
2006-08-03 15:53:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even if there is no one there to hear it, it is a sound.
Sound is a frequecy which is a vibration.
With that said the breaking of the tree the air being displaced and the tree hitting the ground is going to cause vibrations that equate into sound frequencies.
So yes it is a sound.
2006-08-03 15:53:48 · answer #3 · answered by Biker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Classic question. The scientific answer is No, since the definition of sound is any wave that is received by an auditory receptor (the ear) and the resulting signals transmitted by the auditory nerves to the brain, where it is interpreted as sound. So, if no one is there to hear it, technically, it doesn't produce sound.
2006-08-03 16:05:30 · answer #4 · answered by lonewolf3652000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it would. Sound is the vibration of air. The air would still vibrate. sound is not the reception of air vibrating. It's like asking if I started playing a CD and went to the 7-11 would it still be making music.
2006-08-03 15:56:52 · answer #5 · answered by John W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perception creates reality...
If you don't think you heard anything, did you hear anything? Something may fall but that doesn't necessarily mean a sound is made even if there is someone standing right next to the object at impact. Without a witness, there is no basis for an account of an action.
Answer: No
2006-08-03 15:53:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's a classical definition in Physics: SOUND requires a RECEIVER to be SOUND. Otherwise, it is merely ENERGY (a wave pulse discharged by a source). Therefore, if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, it in fact does NOT make a noise.
2006-08-03 15:55:55 · answer #7 · answered by Kewl__Kat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most definitely there was a sound.
Whether or not it was perceived, that tree hitting the ground created a sound waves eminating from the point of impact travelling in concentric sound waves until it dissipated when the energy of the sound was absorbed by air molecules.
2006-08-03 15:54:19 · answer #8 · answered by Dreamer363 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sound is defined as vibrations in the air. The lack of anything to detect them (ear microphone or something else) doesn't stop the vibrations happening.
Or in other words, Yes !!!
2006-08-03 15:54:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I thought about this and let's say we left a tape recorder in the forest and when the tree falls will it record a sound? I say yes it would and we could hear it when we play back the tape.
2006-08-03 16:13:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure it makes a sound........ a tree doesn't fall in the forest without making a sound. It's the same principle as lighting...... does lighting make a sound? No but it causes a sound when the thunder comes.
2006-08-03 15:59:02 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋