if a tree falls over in a forest and nobody see's it happen, does it make any noise???

Answer 1

Yes. Because a tree is an object with enough energy to produce sound waves, therefore it will make noise, with or without human awareness.

Answer 2

YES!--- but it's not quite what you might think.

Scientists have been dealing with the problem of natural tree falls (and the sound they make--or don't make) for quite some time and have drawn some rather surprising conclusions.

If a tree falls and there is a person around the sound is easily recognized.

If a tree falls in the forest and there is nobody nearby, the sound that it makes is very different and often not recognized as the sound of a tree falling.

Either way, there is a sound.


Even though plants do not show any changes to the naked (or lensed) eye, when a human is in their presence systemic biological changes have been discovered that have grave effects on plant life when a person is within 300 meters. This effect is called "human stress syndrome".

Apparently, when a tree is about to fall, if it senses a human nearby the biological stresses of human presence cause the cell walls in the plant to become brittle and it is the cell brittleness responsible for the familiar sound we know as that of a tree fall. The cell brittleness also has significant effects to the quality of the lumber, making it much more suitable for use in construction.

Through the miracle of recording tape, I am able to provide a sound recording of an actual tree falling without human presence.

http://www.getodd.com/stuf/treesound1.wav

Answer 3

Noise and sound are 2 different ideas.
Sound is "Vibrations transmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing."
Noise is generally the effect of sound on human beings, or the effect of sound on inanimate objects that have some relation to humans.
So I would say according to these definitions that the tree makes a sound no matter what, but it only makes a noise if a human hears it.

Answer 4

If a tree falls in the forest, it doesn't make a noise.
It makes a symphony.
The sudden creak and crack of a old and sturdy limb.
The gentle rustle and cries of leaves as the realize their fate
The strangling cry of gravity as it rushes to cartch the tree
The passage of wind as it wishles, first softly, then loudly, allowing the tree to pass before it
A single moment of quiet before it strikes the ground
The thunder of ages and screams of smaller plants crushed beneath
Weeping of the forest, caused by the wind of a falling tree, tears of leaves from nearby
And once again a silence for a departed and respected member

Answer 5

technically i would hear it if i was within earshot to hear it fall but i couldnt directly see it falling lets say it was a big tree and the snap the tree made was heard for quite some distance i could hear it and not see it. If theres a siren blasting in your city somewhere and you cant see it does it make any noise? Of course it does because you can hear it. Can you see it? no.

Answer 6

It depends on your definition of noise. The answer could be yes or no. If you define noise as the disturbance and/or movement of air molecules then physically yes, it does and must make noise. If your define noise as the stimulation of the ear drum and small follicles then no, there is no noise because their is no ear to hear it. The question is in effect asking for the definition of noise.

Answer 7

So do trees look for someone before deciding whether to make a noise or not as they fall down dead? that's the question, right?

Wow, you should check Marlon Munroe, she's lookin for an astraunut to make her pregnant, hoping for an alien kid. I think you two could hit it off. Good luck

Answer 8

yes, it makes noise, the only difference is that the sound waves were never received by human the ear hence it wouldnt make noise to you and I as we are not there. however animals and birds can hear the noise.

Answer 9

in case you follow the guidelines of classical physics, then the air does variety compression waves becoming the pheomenon called sound. On a subatomic point, the place the guidelines of classical physics start to erode and we ought to apply quantum physics, then if we use the tree as a metaphor for an occurance between-a pair of electrons, information means that if no person observes an occurance, then it does impression the effect.

Answer 10

yes it sounds like a tree falling over