Whats the answer to this question?

Question

If a tree falls down in a forest and there is nobody there to hear it - does it make a noise?

Surely the tree will only make a noise if there is somebody to interpret the sound waves?

Answer 1

Like so many questions, the answer to this one depends on what meaning you attach to the particular words used.
Is a "noise" just an emanation of sound waves? (in which case , yes, a tree falling in a forest miles away from any listener does make a noise. Just leave your tape recorder running in the forest for long enough and you should be able to obtain all the proof you need of that).
Or do you mean by "noise" the impression made in the brain, when a lot of sound waves are detected by the ears attached to that brain?
One might ask "is a midi file of a Bach Fugue, playing inside an empty sound-proof room music?" Depends entirely on how you define the word "music".
The old "gag" about the sound of one hand clapping is equally as pointless. If you define clapping in a commonsense way it is something that can only be done by two objects - end of story.

Answer 2

MASTER - Gwasshopper

Gwasshopper - yes a master

MASTER - If a tree falls in forest and no one hears or sees the tree fall, who can say that the tree has fallen

Gwasshopper - That's a too deep for me master.

Answer 3

Just because no one is around doesn't mean it won't make a noise. Anytime a tree falls whether someone is around or not, it will make a noise! Go cut a tree down, and listen! :o)

Answer 4

It does make noise but there's no one there to hear the noise.

Answer 5

If a man says something in a forest and there is no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?

Answer 6

sure, just because man isnt' there to witness something doesnt mean that thing doesnt happen.
the falling tree will give off sound waves despite the fact there is a person to hear it or not.
thats like saying - wat was the tallest mountain before mt. everest?
answer- mt everest, because it was still the tallest mountain whether man knew it or not.

Answer 7

It sure does. Just because you aren't there to hear or see it fall, doesn't mean it didn't happen. That is like saying "If we landed on the moon and nobody seen it, did it happen?"

Answer 8

It sends out compression waves of varying frequency and intensity regardless if there is an ear present!

Answer 9

yes, although nobody heard it it still makes a noise

Answer 10

it would, of course it would. if i am talking to my mother, she is listening. she hears me. so now we take my mum out of the equation. i am still talking, but nobody is listening (which happens to me A LOT). i am still making a sound, just no one is hearing it. doesn't mean its not happening. i dont hear every conversation you have, but it still happens!